Moments By Moser

ARTICLE: Walk Of Fame May 2011 Keith Urban and Bill Anderson

2011-05-15T17:31:00.000-07:00

Bill Anderson and Keith Urban are the newest inductees into the Music City Walk of Fame, presented by founding sponsor Gibson Guitar. Anderson was presented his plaque and introduced by Senior Senator Lamar Alexander and Urban recieved his induction plaque from legendary Ronnie Milsap.

The honorees were recognized officially with the unveiling of commemorative sidewalk markers on Sunday, May 15, at 2:30 p.m. at Walk of Fame Park in downtown Nashville.

Anderson penned his first hit country song when he was 19, and he has been a force in music for more than a half century. A Grand Ole Opry member, Anderson has written or co-written songs including “Mama Sang A Song,” “The Tips Of My Fingers” and “Give It Away,” and his songs have been recorded by disparate talents including James Brown, Lawrence Walk, Dean Martin, Aretha Franklin and Porter Wagoner.

Urban is one of modern country’s biggest stars, having recorded No. 1 singles including “You’ll Think of Me,” “Days Go By” and “Sweet Thing.” His 2002 hit “Somebody Like You” was named the decade’s top country song by Nielsen BDS.

"The second I got here I loved this town. I grew up with all these records, my dad's record collection and on the back of them they all said recorded in Nashville, Tennessee. So as a seven-year-old boy, I said, ‘Well, that's where I am going to go,'" Urban said during the ceremony.

The induction ceremony is sponsored by Great American Country (GAC). The Music City Walk of Fame was created in 2006 and will now have a total of 50 inductee stars. The plaque medallions for Anderson and Urban were inlaid on Demonbreun, between 4th and 5th Avenues South.

Additional photos of the induction ceremony can be viewed at http://MomentsByMoser.zenfolio.com/walkoffameinductionsmay2011

INTERVIEW: Mark Cooke "I Love It"

2011-05-11T09:51:00.000-07:00

Through the grace of God, Mark Cooke has continued to pursue his childhood dream to become a musician. Born and raised in East Texas, Mark grew up singing and writing songs of all types, especially country. Country music is what he found comfort in.

After graduating high school, Mark took a step away from music and joined the U.S. Navy. As he sailed around the world, he enhanced his vocal and writing skills. His dedication to the Navy made him a much stronger person mentally and spiritually. Throughout all of the changes happening in his life, he felt that it was time to find himself. In 1997, Mark departed from the U.S. Navy and began his music career. With all the work he did in his spare time writing songs, this year he finally has the opportunity to bring his songs to life.

Mark was excited to release his debut single, “Can’t Cheat in A Small Town” to country music listeners in the summer of 2010. His style is sure to awe fans and bring an introduction to his upcoming debut album releasing early 2011. I sat down with him to talk about the past as well as the new song just released to radio titled, “I Love It”.

Bev: Share with me a little of the history on how you got started in the music industry.

Mark: I was born and raised in East Texas in a middle class family. My father is a manager for a welding company and my mother runs hot shots for an oil field company. They are hard workers; nothing was ever handed to them and have had to earn everything they have. It makes you appreciate everything, so that is good. I have a twin sister that is three minutes older than I.

Bev: Is she in the music industry as well?

Mark: No. I think she visualized herself as a singer. She just recently told me that. The closest she has come to being in the business is that she has married my lead guitar player. She has four kids, so she stays busy.

Bev: You did not immediately go into the music business, but served in the Navy first.

Mark: I put in four years in the U.S.Navy. I have another sister, younger than me, who just came home from Iraq. It was her second tour over there. I hope she does not have to go back anymore. During my time enlisted, I saw a lot of countries during my tour of duty and I do not regret my service, although it did push back my music career. There are always things you need to do to prepare for a music career because you cannot rely on it being your career.

Shortly after I got out of the navy, the last home port I was in was Ingleside, TX which is the neighboring town to Corpus Cristi. I tried to do the music scene down there, but it just was not clicking. I went back to east Texas, immediately got myself a band and have been my lead guitarist, Joe Rodriguez, for about twelve years or so. It has been a long hard road. I worked on an oil rig in the machine shop, plus playing in the band three or four nights a week. The money was good, but I had no life and yet we managed to keep it together.

Bev: At what age did you decide that this is what you wanted to do for a living?

Mark: When I was about five years old, I started having premonitions. I saw myself on a bus and seeing signs along the highway, I heard myself on the radio, never at that time thinking about music. Now I am actually living those dreams. It makes me think that premonitions are real.

Bev: Were you involved in church and Sunday school as a young boy? Were you singing in the choir at all?

Mark: I remember back then going to church and singing up front with all the other kids, how petrified I was in front of that small country congregation that I chewed my fingernails the whole time. I remember in Boy Scouts you had to get up and put on a show and I was the lead guitarist for Van Halen on a fake guitar. I was so scared. It is amazing how somebody can change over time and how they can go from being so scared to leading their own band for the last twelve years. Family members and friends look at me and they cannot believe it is the same person.

Bev: Do you play guitar now?

Mark: I had one when I was about five years old, but I never touched it so it was sold at a garage sale. Looking back, it seems strange how everything started moving in this direction. I started writing when I was about thirteen. A neighborhood kid and I were writing parodies like “Weird Al”. They were actually pretty good for our age. I never thought I would pursue a career as a writer, or a singer or a musician. That same guy is a big producer in Austin now.

Bev: Once you decided to do this as a career, which came first, the writing or the performing?

Mark: The writing came first. I was so geared to the singing part and although I was happy about getting to write, I was hoping that the singing was right around the corner. It was not. It took about another five or so years for things to all come together.

Bev: Is this album your first official project?

Mark: Yes, it is. We compiled a few CD’s in Texas, but nothing to this extent.

Bev: You have had very good success with the first single; in your own words describe how you feel about this initial success?

Mark: I feel very fortunate and blessed that the first single went this far on the first try. With an Independent label I think they are able spend more time on one artist and make it happen maybe a little bit quicker. Which is not to say anything against the major labels, but I think these days an independent label has just as much opportunity for success as a major label. It is exciting in Nashville to see who is coming up next.

Bev: Were you part of the writing process for this current single?

Mark: No, this song has been around for awhile and I was fortunate enough to pick it up.

Bev: What drew you to the song?

Mark: I like to have fun on stage and get the crowd involved. I have noticed over the last ten or twelve years that people like that. I know that each artist out there might play the role of tough guy or a fun guy. I am more of a fun guy. I get in trouble in the office for playing pranks, whether or not I am actually the guilty party.

Bev: Along that line of thought, has there ever been a prank that has gone wrong?

Mark: No, I do not think so, although I could tell you a lot of stupid things that I have done over the years.

Bev: You just released new single “I Love It” from your forthcoming self-titled debut album. I know it was written by Philip Douglas, Ron Harbin and Jimmy Yeary and produced by Nashville veterans J.Gary Smith and John Smith of CVR; “I Love It” is already garnering attention from country radio. What do you like about the new song?

Mark: I think it has a good representation as to who I am as far as being a little more playful. It has a summer feel. I think it is the right time of the year to come out. I mean, you know, you always want to load up with a good CD and pop it in the boat when you are out on the lake or just going down the highway. It has some awesome writers on it, Jimmy Urie, Ron Hartman, Philip Douglas, all three really good guys and have good reputations as writers. I feel fortunate to have names like that on our album. I am lucky that they believe in me enough to do this.

Bev: As far as the social media have you had any funny or bad experiences?

Mark: I would say that probably the worst one was from a girl that I have never met who said she was pregnant with my baby. Now, about ninety-nine percent of the people on Facebook are courteous and play by the rules about what they write. I am the one who is actually writing on my page, no one here in the office does it for me, so something like that is embarrassing.

Bev: Do you agree that it has created a “real time” method of communicating with the fan base and getting a true feel of their reaction to the music.

Mark: Oh, I agree. You can get a quicker response today than you could five years ago. It is awesome to read something that someone writes that does not even intend on you reading it, talking about you in a positive way. It makes you know that you are on the right track.

Bev: What has been the biggest thing during a back stage meet and greet or signing autographs that has made an impact on you?

Mark: I wrote a song several years ago; when I was probably a hundred or more miles from home, back when it was all local, about someone who had died. The whole family was crying because the song reminded them of this person. They were singing that song word for word. From their emotions, I knew that they were already acquainted with the song. It was pretty touching.

Bev: Do you remember the first time you saw the crowd singing along with you and knowing the words?

Mark: Like some people can drink a lot and not remember the next morning what happened during that evening, I am one of those people who can play and play and at the end of the night I will remember seeing something from stage, but did not connect with it at that moment. It comes back slowly afterward.

Bev: I know you are busy in the studio as we speak, are there any other songs on it that you are especially excited about?

Mark: Yes, as a matter of fact I think we are planning to cut it today. I have been fortunate to have some really good writers on this album and I am going to try to do them justice and show them that I am worthy enough to do some more later on down the road. I think we are going to make a good run at this album.

Bev: Mark, it has been great visiting with you and I am looking forward to more music from you. Thank you for taking time out of your crazy schedule to share some insight on the music.

Mark: Happy to do it anytime, I will let you know as soon as the CD is ready and we can do it again.

For more information on Mark Cooke visit his website at: http://markcooke.com/

ARTICLE: 1st Annual Tracy Lawrence Golf For A Cure Charity Golf Classic

2011-05-09T13:48:00.000-07:00

Multi-platinum, award-winning, country recording artist, Tracy Lawrence was proud to host the 1st Annual Golf For A Cure Charity Golf Classic on Monday, May 2, 2011, benefitting Susan G. Komen Greater Nashville. The event was held at Five Oaks Golf & Country Club in Lebanon, Tennessee (621 Five Oaks Blvd.), Lawrence was joined by celebs from the performing stage and the ball field. As part of his personal initiative to give back, Lawrence, along with his friends in sports and entertainment--Darryl Worley, Brad Arnold (3 Doors Down), Ira Dean (former Trick Pony member), Keith Anderson, Bryan White, Matt Gary, Ty Brown (of “The Bachelorette” fame), Cory Hildreath (One Night Rodeo), Davis Daniel, Elbert West, Lacey Brown and more - raised money for Komen Greater Nashville spending the day on the greens as comrades in mission and play.

After a challenging 18-hole game, the Golf For A Cure outing was followed by a celebratory reception. The awards presentation took place during the reception, along with silent and live auctions and an up-close acoustic concert featuring Lawrence and friends. The price of admittance included FREE beer, vodka and rum beverages (provided by Pinnacle Liquors). Big tag silent auction items include an authentic, autographed Nolan Ryan Rangers' jersey and photograph and a Fender Squire electric guitar autographed by the members of 3 Doors Down. One hundred percent of the proceeds went directly to Susan G. Komen Greater Nashville.

Over the course of the past 15 years, Lawrence has hosted his golf classic in Texarkana, Texas benefiting the Tracy Lawrence Foundation. Influencing, enhancing and improving hundreds of thousands of residents’ lives in and around Lawrence’s hometown of Foreman, Arkansas, the Foundation has donated more than 1 million dollars to 35-plus communities and civic groups in and around the area. Lawrence hopes Golf For a Cure will garner the same success and proceeds for the efforts of Susan G. Komen For The Cure Foundation.

About Susan G. Komen Greater Nashville: Komen For The Cure is the global leader of the breast cancer movement, having invested more than $1 billion since its inception in 1982. Komen’s promise is to save lives and end breast cancer forever by empowering people, ensuring quality care for all and energizing science to find the cures.

Across the country, that promise is upheld by a network of 122 local affiliate offices. In 1997, the Greater Nashville Affiliate was founded and, to date, has provided more than $3 million in screening, treatment and educational services to the women of Middle Tennessee.

For more information on Tracy Lawrence, please visit: http://www.tracylawrence.com/

Additional photos can be seen at http://MomentsByMoser.zenfolio.com/tracylawrencegolfforacure (All photos by Pam Stadel for Moments By Moser)

ARTICLE: ASCAP #1 Party for Thompson Square "Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not,"

2011-05-09T12:17:00.000-07:00

ASCAP honored writer David Lee Murphy, publishers Old Desperadoes and N2D Publishing, producers New Voice Entertainment and artist Thompson Square for the success of the #1 hit "Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not," during a party held at ASCAP on Tuesday, May 3. The song marks Murphy's sixth career No. 1; he garnered his seventh chart topper last week with Kenny Chesney's "Live A Little." "Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not" is also a major milestone as the first No.1 song for both husband-wife duo Thompson Square and the Stoney Creek Records label.

Photos from the #1 Party can be viewed at http://MomentsByMoser.zenfolio.com/ascapthompsonsquare

About ASCAP

Established in 1914, ASCAP is the first and leading U.S. Performing Rights Organization (PRO) representing the world's largest repertory totaling over 8.5 million copyrighted musical works of every style and genre from more than 400,000 songwriter, composer and music publisher members. ASCAP has representation arrangements with similar foreign organizations so that the ASCAP repertory is represented in nearly every country around the world where copyright law exists. ASCAP protects the rights of its members and foreign affiliates by licensing the public performances of their copyrighted works and distributing royalties based upon surveyed performances. ASCAP is the only American PRO owned and governed by its writer and publisher members. www.ascap.com

REVIEW: DJ Miller Industry Showcase

2011-04-28T08:06:00.000-07:00

DJ Miller did not just put on a standard industry showcase for the Music Row executives and media members in attendance at his performance on Wednesday April 27th at tht Rutledge, he entertained. The talented 21 year old not only has an great voice and ability to sing, but he has put great effort into studying the stage performance persona of hitmakers of today such as Brad Paisley as well as Garth Brooks. He connects with his audience both on stage and off, and it is not uncommon for this young man to jump into the crowd to sing and dance with his fans.

“You can’t be the only one having fun,” Miller explains. “You have to interact with the crowd. You want them to be wondering what’s gonna happen next. If you just stand there and sing your songs and play your music, you might sound really good, but if you don’t give your fans a real show, then they may not have a reason to come back and see you again.”

Miller debut album will be out in May on Evergreen records and the young artist gave those in attendance a taste of the music while singing songs he has written with hit songwriters Don Goodman (Blake Shelton, Faith Hill, Brooks & Dunn) and Charlie Black (Alan Jackson, Reba & Phil Vassar). His current single, entitled “Whatever It Takes” is a traditional styled country ballad which was written with Goodman along with Trini Triggs and Brad Wolf and is currently in the top 40 on both Billboard and Music Row charts.

Keep your eye on this young man, call your local radio stations and request his music and if you get a chance to see his live performance you will not be disappointed.

For more information on DJ Miller visit http://www.djmillercountry.com/

Additional photos of the industry showcase can be viewed at http://MomentsByMoser.zenfolio.com/djmillershowcase

INTERVIEW: Doug Gray (Marshall Tucker Band) Soul Of The South

2011-04-27T10:32:00.000-07:00

Forty years ago the Marshall Tucker Band roared out of Spartanburg, South Carolina, at the dawn of the '70s, spurred on by camaraderie and a hunger for adventure. They began forging a musical legacy that quickly turned into a legend. Their ability to blend rock, country, jazz and blues won them a fervent following and changed perceptions of what American pop music could be. On April 5, 2011, marking its 40th Anniversary, the Marshall Tucker Band released The Marshall Tucker Band: Greatest Hits (Shout Factory). The 14-track album features original recordings of the songs that made the MTB a household name.

Lead singer Doug Gray unveiled his lost R&B solo album, Soul Of The South (Shout Factory), on the same date as the MTB Greatest Hits. The unreleased 30-year-old recordings’, featuring the MTB, showcases Gray's vocal affinity for Soul and Blues.

Doug and I chatted about the music and the release of both albums, along with what else we might expect in the future from him and the Marshall Tucker Band.

Bev: I am in love with your new solo project, “Soul of the South”, can you shed some light and a little background about it and why you decided to put it out now?

DG: Well, thirty years ago, Tommy had just died in a car wreck. We were all life long buddies and we weren’t sure what was going to happen with the band. So, I came to Nashville wanting to do some background stuff for some things that I really liked, some good soulful music. I wanted to add some things to it and make it the way I remember music before there was Marshall Tucker. I was offered a record contract and turned it down. The band was already signed to a label, I think it was Warner Brothers at the time and I wasn’t about to leave. A lot of guys want to go out and do their solo career, but I wasn’t one that wanted to do that. I liked being in a band and in a group. I could have taken the easier route, but I chose to take the harder path by staying in the Marshall Tucker band and keeping it going for thirty years. You always have this gut instinct, the guys you went to high school with, you want to stay with those guys. It’s almost like being married to people. You certainly want to stay there, you don’t want to leave. Some “get too cool for school” and think they are a little better than the band they are with. I never felt that way. Some forty years later, it is still run the same way. Everyone is important to the group. There is no one person that sticks out, including me. I’m just the oldest one in the band. Being the oldest one, they give me more respect (laughter) but that doesn’t mean I have to be a boss, I just have to be a part.

Bev: In correlation with your CD, the Marshall Tucker band also has a Greatest Hits CD out. What prompted both at the same time?

DG: The reason for doing that was we haven’t had a Greatest Hits CD out for over ten years and while touring, people would come up and ask us when we we’re going to put a Greatest Hits CD out with this song or that song. I wrote these things down over the ten year period and realized that if we added these songs to our hit songs, then it really would be a Greatest Hits CD. Sure enough, this is a result of it. We added four or five songs that people wanted and this way they don’t have to carry around a bunch of Marshall Tucker CDs. The record label and the distribution both said that the Doug Gray record was good and I should have put it out twenty years ago. It fit more to the times then and it is different. It has the band on it, everyone but Tommy.

Bev: What is the one re-occurring question that everyone wants to know?

DG: They want to know when I am going to stop. I think they come to see us just to see if I am still alive — that being a joke I hope. Probably the one question is how does it sound similar, but it is different guys down through the years. The first band was only together for nine years and then the band changed. The guys matured and wanted to try different things. People want to know how it changes and how do we make it strong and keep going.

Bev: On a personal level, how have things changed for you? You started singing shortly after you learned to walk. For you to start so young and music has been a huge part of your life, how have you seen things change for you personally over the last few years?

DG: It has gotten a lot easier and people are more interested now than they’ve ever been. I am amazed. It use to be you would go out and play a version of a song and now, thirty years later someone says “you know, that version is really, really good and now, I would like to hear the other version”. I have to say to them that that was a period of time version. It is not really that much different but it is. They don’t say those things to be hurtful. I think people appreciate The Marshall Tucker band a lot more than they did a long time ago. The same people are coming out to see us, but they are not bringing Jack Daniels bottles anymore, they’re bringing cookies because there’s three generations along with them now and THAT is what is cool.

Bev: Have you ever thought of doing something else? Have you ever thought you might want to expand to another area like acting or something?

DG: One good thing about YouTube is you learn what you can do. Back when it was cool to put out all those different videos, we put them out and we did some commercials. I learned that was not my way to go. Once you look at yourself on video, you can pretty much tell and I didn’t want to look at myself anymore. It is like finishing a record. Once you finish that record, you never want to go back to it unless you have an ego bigger than the world. I don’t have that kind of ego. Once I saw myself in some of those really expensive videos that we did and they’ve been played all over and thousands of YouTubes out there, I realize I don’t need to be an actor.

Bev: When you have downtime and not doing anything musically, what are your hobbies?

DG: I ride my Harley. I go to see different people. I love the beach and I love the Harley, those two things go together.

Bev: Earlier you mentioned that you jotted notes and things down. Do you keep a journal?

DG: Of course. I think that is one of the smartest things anyone can do because no memory is that good. It is like you having to record this interview. A lot of people use to get it wrong. For me, if I can make notes on it, then I am much better in two or three days. I was never so glad when people started recording interviews. I have always been impressed with the people that were recording it because they always get it right.

Bev: You mentioned that you thought there was more interest now. Do you think social media added to that?

DG: Oh yes. When I go on my Facebook account, I can’t answer all the questions because there are so many of them at once. It lets me know that as far as the ability to communicate, I think you guys are the ones that make it easier on us. You have made it to where someone can ask the question and that question is answered 500 times. That pleases me a lot because I can’t do all those interviews. Our parents worked and we understood what a dollar was and we had to work in order to get it. That made that nine year period we had, the strongest period anyone could have. It was like working towards the final goal and those goals are being represented today I hope, by me and the rest of the guys

Bev: Are you recording or writing anything new?

DG: We are writing all the time. We have about seven or eight songs in the can. We have a bunch of things. I just finished mixing some things from England and some recorded stuff from Paris that we did in the original band and boy, it puts you back when I am sitting in there knowing I am the only one left out here doing music from the original band.

Bev: When you listen to that, what are the feelings you get? It was so amazing back then.

DG: I don’t want to go back because if you go back, you get sad. So many sad things have happened to everyone. There was a lot of sadness before we ever got to be such a popular band. We were junior high school and high school friends and we were losing friends and band members. It honestly got to where it drew us closer. I just remember everyone caring. Do I want to go back? No, let’s go on and create another step in our lives.

Bev: What is going to be next?

DG: We were in a movie called “Angel Camouflage” where we sang a Run DMC song; that’s tricky. That’s pretty unique in itself because we weren’t Marshall Tucker in the movie, we were someone else. The movie will probably come out next year. As far as recording, we are continuously recording down here. That is what you do when you come home. Also, we are getting ready to go entertain the troops in the next month or so.

Bev: Doug I am sure we could go on forever, I really enjoyed this time visiting and I know I am not alone in looking forward to all the new stuff to come. Thank you for taking time to visit with me.

DG: Bev, if I can do anything or you need anything, you just let me know. I have also enjoyed chatting and visiting with you as well.

For more information on Doug Gray please visit http://www.marshalltucker.com/

INTERVIEW: Charlie Daniels Operation Yellow Ribbon

2011-04-26T14:36:00.000-07:00

Operation Yellow Ribbon is a daylong symposium sponsored by Lipscomb University and featuring experts from the Center for Deployment Psychology (CPD), Challenge America, Not Alone and the Department of Veterans Affairs. The day was filled with clinical as well as non-clinical approaches to working with veterans and developing a better understanding of this unique population. Another focus of the symposium is to bring together university administrators, certifying officials and others who work with student-veterans to discuss best approaches in creating veteran-friendly campuses as thousands of veterans across the country are enrolling in universities through the Post 9/11 GI Bill. Lipscomb’s Yellow Ribbon Program offers eligible Post 9/11 GI Bill veterans and their family members an undergraduate degree tuition-free or a graduate degree tuition-free or at a greatly reduced tuition rate.
Capping off the day’s events, General Tommy Franks (Ret.) addressed attendees at Lipscomb’s Allen Arena as well as musical appearances by Charlie Daniels, Wynonna, Montgomery Gentry and The Grascals.

“Our goal is to provide an informative day for those who work with veterans at universities across the country to help equip them with knowledge and expertise to make their campuses more accessible and friendly for veterans. By partnering with the Center for Deployment Psychology we want to help educate university counseling teams so they can offer programs that adequately serve our veterans as they reintegrate home and adjust to university life,” said David K. Hughes, Lipscomb University assistant dean of students and director of the Yellow Ribbon Program.

I spoke with Charlie Daniel prior to his participation in Operation Yellow Ribbon and his involvement and personal endeavors for our military men and women.

Daniels: I am honored to be a part of this. I’m honored to be a part of anything that honors the troops, especially something like this that does it in a practical way. Something you don’t think about is educating and providing tuitions for our veterans, our people in service. A lot of times they go to war, they had plans of something they wanted to do for the rest of the lives when they get out of the military. Sometimes they receive an injury that will prevent them from being able to do that so they have a big change of plans. They are physically no longer able to do what they intended to do. It has to be a very confusing time. To have someone come along and say “hey, come get an education at a great university, let’s start there. You can’t do what you wanted to do so let’s prepare you for something you’ll like and can do.” That’s a big deal, a huge thing in someone’s life. We owe these people so much. When you go into harm’s way and do what these people do defending our country; everyone that goes does it for that reason. They’re not there for fun, there’s nothing entertaining about it. They go because they want to defend their country; they want to be part of something great. They’re doing that for us and they deserve our support. I am always glad to do anything that helps them out in some way.

BEV: Last year was very touching, not only for everyone that was up on stage but sitting out in the audience surrounded by all the wives and families. There were a lot of tears in that audience. What was one of the things you remember most from last year?

DANIELS: I remember two things I am going to mention. I remember the spirit of what you are talking about, to be in a hall full of people that were all there to honor the troops. 100% of the people that were there were there for that specific reason, to say thank you to the people that serve in our military. The other thing I remember is how surprised I was by what a standup comedian General Tommy Franks was. He was hilarious. I never heard him speak like that but he was a very funny man. He is coming back this year and he probably has some new material. I think he is worth the price of the ticket, just to see him.

BEV: Was that the first time you had met him?

DANIELS: No, I had met General Franks when he was in Tampa the same time I was. He came by and we went and played some songs for some troops that were there. I took my guitar and entertained them for a little while. He was just very down to earth, an old southern boy. He is 100% American soldier and a pleasure to be around.

BEV: If they asked you to be the spokesperson, what would be the one thing you would say to any of the veterans, anyone out there? Give me one piece of advice to encourage them to be involved with this?

DANIELS: I don’t think you have to impress the importance of this on anyone that has served. I think anybody that has served recognizes there are very special needs of people coming out of the military, especially the ones that have been wounded in one way or another. There are people that planned on going to school when they got out of the military but can’t afford it now. This is very important; it is a life changing thing, something that deals with people’s lives, their quality of life. To the regular citizens, I would say, you will never be doing the wrong thing by helping a veteran out. If the same kind of people that showed up last year would show up this year, I would be a happy man. I felt like a part of everything going on, not just what was going on on the stage, but what was going on in the audience. Everyone was in the same frame of mind, it was a special night to honor some special people and do some good for them. I say, let’s just do it again.

For more information about Lipscomb's Yellow Ribbon educational program that provides veterans a tuition-free college education click here.

INTERVIEW: Margaret Durante

2011-04-26T13:29:00.000-07:00

With the release of her four-song digital-only “Maybe Tonight EP,” much of the music world is getting its first glimpse of one of country music’s most exciting young voices, Margaret Durante. The title track from the EP is a contagiously upbeat look at new love at its flirty and romantic best. It is also her new single and a great introduction to Margaret, whose world-class pipes and dynamic stage presence have been wowing audiences since she was a young girl.

Margaret and I sat in the studio on Music Row recently to visit about the release, what it took to get where she is and where she hopes to go from here.

Bev: Do you know when you realized that you wanted to be in the music business and how old you were when you first performed in public?

MD: I started singing at a very young age. My parents noticed that I was singing before I was talking. I was really intent on listening to music. My favorites were “Little Mermaid” and “Fine Young Cannibals”. (What a combination!) I would make them play it all the time and sing along with it. Because of their encouragement, it made me want to continue to perform for people. My love for singing and music evolved because they were always supporting me. At sixteen, I was introduced to the Bruce Springsteen cover band called The B Street Band. They have been together for thirty-five years and let me do my own set before they played. The songs I performed consisted of Mary Chapin Carpenter, Melissa Etheridge, Shania Twain, and Linda Ronstadt, all these artists that I have enjoyed covering. It got to the point that we became such good friends that I started writing my own music. They would learn it and they were backing me and I got to perform these original songs before a live audience. I caught the bug and became addicted to performing live.

Bev: How old were you at that point?

MD: It was before I left to go to college; probably about seventeen or eighteen. While I was attending college I went to clubs in South Carolina and I traveled back to the Jersey Shore whenever I could to perform. I was studying music and music management, I knew wanted to work in the music industry ideally as a performer. That was all I really wanted to do. Through six degrees of separation, I was heard by Tommy Mottola, who invited me to visit him in his office to sing some of the songs I had written and I made a fan out of him. I always wanted to sing country, as that is where my heart was. He introduced me to James Stroud. Tommy is in the pop world and worked with Laura Stroud when she was with A & R at Sony. He also worked with the Dixie Chic’s on the Fly album. After meeting James, we just totally hit it off. He loved my music and I loved working with him. It was an honor to work with him. I have been recording all my music with him ever since.

Bev: Have you ever thought of revisiting some of your first songs that you have written? Perhaps tweak and rewrite some of them?

MD: I have given some thought to that actually. The first song I ever wrote was called “One Way Love”. Being totally biased, my parents still love that first song I wrote. There is a lot of sentimental value attributed to that song. I wrote the songs when I was at Clemson, by driving in my jeep around campus holding a hand held recorder. I lived in a sorority hall where it is very noisy. But all my friends knew this is what I wanted to do, it was no mystery to any them and they were all so supportive of me. Looking back I think it is sort of funny that that is how I had to craft my first song. Then I came to Nashville where there are places to write like houses on Music Row, and people whose job it is to help you. It has helped me to evolve as an artist and as a writer.

Bev: What has been your best writing experience?

MD: I have had a lot of those memorable writing experiences. The first song I ever wrote was with Stephanie Smith and Shelly Fairchild. It is going to be on the full album which should come out later this year and the song is called “If Love Will Let Me”. I think what makes it so magical is that it was the first time I had ever met them. I had heard their music and been fans of theirs before we met. It was the first time I had ever written with anyone who had already accomplished so much in their careers of music. It was very humbling. The friendship that came out of it, the song that came out of it, the sense of pride that I felt after writing it, was all an incredible experience. And then, there is “Like Tonight”, where one afternoon of light hearted fun, a natural process where we all just tapped into that place where you are in the beginning of a relationship where you are falling in love, where everything is perfect. The song just came together. Then there are the times where you struggle through it and it emulates the pain you are writing about. “Paper Chains” took a few times to hammer out. I think it was because it was about such a distinct pain that I was going through. I wrote it with Connie Harrington and neither of us wanted to just settle. There were so many things we wanted to fine tune. The whole thing is a metaphor about how this guy behaves like a child. We use paper chains because it is a child’s arts and crafts. Every lie he tells is one more link in this paper chain. Once we finished it, it was very therapeutic to get it off my chest.

Bev: Are you the type of writer that has a methodical way of writing?

MD: I usually have a lyrical idea or a melody in mind before I start. But because I co-write all the time, it is usually one or the other. We usually work together to find that marriage between the two.

Bev: Do you play any instruments?

MD: I play the guitar. I started playing after moving to Nashville. I have been playing about three years. I took piano early on. But nothing other than singing has clicked with me as much as guitar. I play guitar when I perform.

Bev: You mentioned melody earlier. Do you imagine a guitar playing or your voice when you write?

MD: The melody and my voice because I have been singing my whole life. I really struggled when I first started writing with people to make the chord structures with the song.

Bev: I know you have you been busy on the road doing radio tours, what is one of the most memorable things that has happened to you on the road?

MD: One of the most memorable experiences was when I played WYCD in Detroit for their Ten Man Jam. It was the first time I played on a big stage with other artists, like Chris Young and Gretchen Wilson, people I have listened to and admire. There were thousands of people in the audience. This is how you reach people.

Bev: After you have performed and you talk with the fans, what stands out in your mind as to what they are saying about you?

MD: When I was playing at the St. Jude’s show in Charleston, at a place called The Wind Jammer, I was taken by surprise at a meet and greet afterward when a listener came up and mentioned how much she loved “Paper Chains”, a song I had not released yet. They were so touched by it that they went and listened to other music. It showed me in that one comment the power of music. Everything you put out there is another way to communicate with your audience. She took it upon herself to find out more about me. There was something she related to. I felt like I had a friend in the audience.

Bev: Do you enjoy contributing to the social media of Facebook and Twitter etc?

MD: I enjoy it. Especially now that I have my iPhone. It is like second nature. It does not scare me. I think it is a great way to learn about an artist’s personality. Maybe their music will mean more to you because you know a little bit more about where they are coming from as you are getting exposed to that side of their life. I think it is great and something the artists should take advantage of.

Bev: Do you think there is a line that should be drawn as to how much information is too much information?

MD: Twitter, to me, is an opportunity for me to talk to my listeners and my followers about everyday life. I do not want them to feel like I am soliciting them for help every time I Tweet. I want them to feel like I am checking in. Sometimes I vent on Twitter. Sometimes I tell them about someone in my family having a birthday. Twitter can sometimes make or break the fans’ perception of that artist. If you like someone’s music, but their personality stinks, does that mean that you cannot like their music? That is for the listener to decide for themselves now. And the social media contributes to that.

Bev: Just this morning the four song digital EP was released? Where were you when you heard it, what was your response, how did it feel?

MD: Actually my little sister texted me last night about two minutes after midnight. She said excitedly, “I just bought you new EP!” I said she beat me to it. She is the first one that I know of that officially purchased it on ITunes. As far as how I feel, it is over whelming. It is really fun for me to be able to release multiple songs at once because I feel like any person that you meet when you are learning about their personality, there is not just one note, there are dynamics to a personality. And I feel that in getting to know an artist, you want to hear more than one song. And I think this EP is a great way for me to give listeners an idea of what is to come on the full album.

Bev: How did you or management decide to release using The Boot instead of another avenue?

MD: The Boot has been following my music and have been fans as well as supportive of what I have been doing. They wanted to feature the video and since they have so many people who follow their site, I felt like it was a great opportunity. When you go to The Boot clearly you want to learn more of the genre’s you enjoy listening to.

Bev: How much involvement and participation do you still have in the creative part of your music career?

MD: Being involved with Stroudavarious I am in a very wonderful and unique position. It is a very tight family here. They respect me. They let me have my artistic and creative vision, but I respect them as well. I am glad that I have someone to filter my ideas who will work with me to make these ideas a reality. I do not feel like my creativity is stifled in any way. Quite the opposite, they are motivators. It is a big happy family. They are very supportive and are true believers not only in what I am doing but in what we are doing. It is a joint effort, a big collaboration.

Bev: So, what is next? What else do we have to look forward to?

MD: The full album comes out later this year. That is what this four song EP is meant to do; create anticipation for the album and to introduce myself to my listeners. I would call it a “getting to know you EP”. Also, I am going to start touring. Not just radio tours. I want to connect with my audience. I am anxious to get out there and start doing some live shows.

Bev: Do you have anything set up yet as far as who you might be traveling with as part of the opening act?

MD: Nothing officially is set up as yet. We are working on that.

Bev: Talk about the video a little bit. Talk about making it; was it the first video you have ever done?

MD: It was the third video. I did a video with Universal Republic called “Use Somebody” which is a cover of The Kings of Leon and I also did one for “Mississippi’s Crying” that I co-produced with my friend Ben Charles. We had a crew of five people, but it is beautiful! It was really fun because I got to write the story with Ben and to hold the auditions for the casting. It was a very different experience for me. It was very fun to do. I feel like listeners want to see how an artist would visually interpret this. I felt like I had to do it for “Mississippi’s Crying”. “Maybe Tonight” was a two day video shoot downtown Nashville. We were fortunate in that the weather was beautiful. The whole premise is that I am a cupcake vendor driving around the city in my school bus, which is my bakery on wheels. I am engaging with kids hop scotching, old couples and young couples. Everyone is outdoors enjoying the warm weather. It is supposed to be about spring or summer love feeling. Kristen Barlowe is the director of the video. She wrote this great treatment and then I came back and said I wanted to incorporate dancing into the video like in “Five Hundred Days of Summer” when he finally got Zooey Deschanel and he is on his way to work and he just busts out dancing with everyone. And he makes them all start dancing with him. It is totally unrealistic, but you understand what they are trying to achieve by having that in there. So we have that sort of flash mob thing going on in the music .video. I want to make people feel good and I think that video does that.

Bev: If you could only send out one message what would you want to make sure to let fans and listeners know?

MD: At this point I just want to direct people to the music, the video, and to find me on Facebook. I love interacting with fans.

Bev: Is there any part of the business, such as the interviews, that you are uncomfortable with?

MD: No, I think it is totally part of it. It is why you sing, why you perform. You want to reach out to people. It is just another way of communicating. Here is your opportunity to say what you want. By Nashville standards, my being here three and a half years, I am considered a new artist. But so far, there is no aspect of the business that I do not like. The one thing that makes a radio tour hard is the conference room performances. When I perform for the program directors in the conference rooms, they are always happy to welcome new artists. They are excited to get that exclusive sneak peek if you will. I guess it is the challenge of transforming the conference room setting into performance space.

Bev: What about bloopers? Have you had any onstage times when something has gone wrong?

MD: I do have some dumb blonde moments when I forget to plug in my guitar. In Detroit at the Ten Man Jam I was talking about earlier, I did not plug in the guitar. I was like “There is no sound! Ha ha”. Trailer Choir was playing with me on stage and Chris Young and these are my peers and I am going “Why isn’t my guitar working?” How many times have I plugged my guitar in and played my acoustic on stage? Plenty! I should know to do that. In Wichita I played at a birthday bash. It was in the same sort of stadium setting. My tuner battery was dead and I was so out of tune. I seem to have little mechanical difficulties here and there.

Bev: Margaret, I think you have a great career ahead of you, the current single is great and you have a wonderful personality. I look forward to seeing you again.

MD: Thank you so much, it was wonderful to visit with you!

For more information on Margaret Durante visit http://www.margaretdurante.com/

ARTICLE:The Twelfth Annual Eco-Energy Best Cellars Dinner

2011-04-26T12:08:00.000-07:00

The Twelfth Annual Eco-Energy Best Cellars Dinner was presented on Monday, April 25, 2011 at the Hutton Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee. The event benefits the T.J. Martell Foundation’s Frances W. Preston Labs at Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center.

The Best Cellars Dinner is one of the Foundation’s signature events that is known for pairing Best Sellers (country music’s top selling artists and other celebrities) with Best Cellars (Nashville’s top wine collectors) plus an extraordinary gourmet meal prepared by a guest chef. The event has raised more than $1.5 million for the mission of funding ground-breaking cancer research.

Blake Shelton poses with Kellie Pickler

The Nashville Best Cellars Dinner welcomed a special group of celebrities that attend the dinner each year. This year’s celebrities included: Lisa and Clint Black, Kix Brooks, Jonathan Cain (Journey),Big Kenny, Martina McBride, Kellie Pickler, Amy Grant, Blake Shelton, Phillip Sweet, Karen Fairchild and Jimi Westbrook of Little Big Town and more.

The Nashville Best Cellars Wine Hosts play a special role in the dinner by providing premier wine from their personal wine cellars to share at their tables.

Some of the wines poured included a 66 Haut Brion, 82 Pichon Lalande, an 89 Margaux, an 82 Mouton, a 95 d’Yquem and a 97 Montrachet and many more of the greatest world class wines.

2011 Best Cellars Wine Hosts included: Mary and Sam Beall, Larry and Jamie Beckwith, Tom Black, Jim Clendenen, Chantel and John Esposito, Joe and Patricia Harbison, Billy Ray and Nancy Hearn, Jeff Hopmayer, Irv Lingo, Eliza Kraft Olander, Keith and Deby Pitts and Bill Shea

For additional information visit: http://www.bestcellarsdinners.com/Best_Cellars_Dinner/nashville.html

Additional photos of the event can be viewed at: http://MomentsByMoser.zenfolio.com/bestcellarsdinner

Interview: Burns & Poe SECOND CHANCE

2011-04-14T12:03:00.000-07:00

Keith Burns and Michelle Poe are one of the fast rising duo’s to become a household name in Country music. They were recently named Music Row Magazine 2010’s “Independent Artist Of The Year”; the award is given to the independent artist with the most spins on Music Row stations over the course of the year.

They have a new single about to be released along with a new video and are excited about what the future holds for them. I recently spent time visiting with them about the new song and some of the stories that go along with their ever blossoming career.

Bev: “Second Chance” is your next single to be released to radio. Tell me about the background of the writing, the story behind the song.

Michelle: Actually I had never written with this writer before, his name is Tom Stipe. It was Keith, Tom and I on this writing appointment. The song, when we finished it, we knew it was good but I wasn’t sure it was “single” worthy. When we got in the studio, we decided to change the tempo, brought it up and then we knew it was good enough. We got a lot of compliments on it, a lot of radio people saying that they hoped it would be a single. We decided to release it and shot the video last week so they got their wish. Hopefully it is a success.

Bev: How much emphasis do you guys put on reaction of radio and fans as well as the industry when you are not really sure what direction you are going to go with a song?

Keith: A lot, and honestly, I put more weight on it when we do it live, when we go out and perform a song live, how well it goes over, how well the people like it. During Country Radio Seminar (CRS) week, a lot of people told us they were excited about this song for radio. They were saying “this is really cool, there’s nothing out there like it”. The song is basically a conversation set to music. It’s Michelle and I having a conversation. It’s like listeners are eaves dropping, listening in on our conversation which is really cool.

Bev: The video for this was shot recently. How much input did you have on the concept for the video and what the story line was going to be?

Michelle: Oh yes, we sat down and had a meeting. They brought the treatment to the table and we sort of tweaked it and worked on our own individual opinions of what it should be. They were really great working with us and with what we wanted the video to do. We can’t wait to see even the rough of it. We’re all excited to see how the story plays out.

Keith: The song sort of dictated two different ways to go with this video because it is a story in itself. The song is a “life time” movie; it could be on the Life Time channel. We basically just followed the story line of the song; we veered off of it a little bit and gave it a nice little twist. Like Michelle said, we’re excited; I think it’s going to be very romantic. It’s shot at a great location so we’re excited.

Michelle: They used a really beautiful model for my part so I am really excited about that.

Bev: What part of making the video was the most fun for you?

Michelle: This time I actually enjoyed watching the actors act. The other video that we did was a performance video, just all about Keith and me on stage. This time the actors are acting out what the story line is. It was really cool. It was like being on the set of a movie for me. That’s the part I enjoyed the most. Plus, they weren’t hard to look at, neither one of them.

Bev: Let’s talk about your recent award for Independent Artist for the Year. Can you share what your reaction was? You have worked so hard and everyone has goals and always reaching for the next step, was this something you could ever anticipate?

Michelle: It was definitely a great kick start to 2011 to have that award under our belt. That means radio is playing our music and people are requesting it. The award is based on spins so it truly is about how many times they have played our song “How Long Is Long Enough”. We’re proud but we’re humbled and were just excited to be recognized.

Bev: What is the “apple” you’re reaching for? Do you have short term or long term goals? How do you base your steps?

Keith: We don’t sit down and go “hey, we want to be here” but obviously we would like to get this next thing going and get it up the charts. We haven’t had a top 40 single on Billboard yet. We’ve had three top 20s on the Music Row chart. I think our next goal is to get to that next level with the mainstream stations and maybe get nominated for an award or something. We need to get our music out there and maybe get to walk the red carpet at the CMAs where we can get a little more exposure and get some more people that know Burns & Poe.

Michelle: Having a really high quality video to show on GAC and CMT will really give us a boost nationally too, and we hope this next video will do that.

Keith: Baby steps for us. If you ask Taylor Swift or Tim McGraw, somebody like that the same question, they would say “it would be nice to sell three million records out of the box” but for us it would be nice to…(Keith pauses, laughs and turns to Michelle)

Michelle: Sell a T-shirt…

Keith: You want to buy one? (laughter)

Bev: What has been the hardest part for you both transitioning into a duo after having solo careers and working within the industry for so long.

Michelle: In my opinion, I think it is better, more pros than cons. You share the spotlight, you share the responsibilities. Keith is fun to be around and musically he writes great songs and he is a business minded motivator. It’s like what one person’s weakness is, the other person makes up for it. We can play off each other on stage, it’s less pressure, I love being in a duo. There are no negatives for me except for Keith’s opinion which… (she says tongue in cheek_

Keith: doesn’t matter…it doesn’t matter now and never will. I wear the pants in the duo but she picks them out. (Laughter)

Bev: Speaking of the humor and the banter between you two, you have been referred to as the “Sonny and Cher of Music Row”. Was that a publicity statement or something someone said and it stuck?

Keith: I think people just started doing that because of our live show. People would say “you’re just like Sonny and Cher but country”…

Michelle: So we added “I’ve Got You Babe” to our cover songs that we use.

Keith: We changed the words up a little bit because it was all lovey dovey and talking about “I got you to hold my hand”, so Michelle and I rewrote that ending.

Bev: What is one of the funniest things that has happened to you guys? What kind of a blooper really stands out?

Keith: Funny to them is daily to us…daily. It’s like we are in one big movie and I keep waiting for somebody to come out from behind the bush with a camera going “You’ve been punked!”.

Bev: Looking at the CD, which I have in my hand, explain the concept behind having two CDs, the duet side and the other. How did you come up with that?

Michelle: On the first one, we just wanted to showcase ourselves as individuals in songs that we loved and felt the closest too and we wanted one that brought us both together and made us a true duet. It was Keith’s idea to have the two separate CDs which I thought was a really good idea at a time when most people are making six song CDs. You are really getting your money’s worth when you buy this record and you’re getting the bonus track. It’s a concept that is not out there and we wanted to be creative and different.

Bev: When you choose songs for duets, do you have a criteria that you look for?

Keith: No, not really. We are very fortunate that when we sit down to write or sit down to listen to a song for Burns & Poe, it can be a duet; it can be a female lead vocal or a male lead vocal. It can be a story song from a third party that we both sing two part harmony all the way through. If we like the song or we are writing it, we just make it ours…

Michelle: We go back and forth and say “you sing this one” and “no, you sing it”…

Keith: …no you sing it.

Bev: Do you ever record both versions; one where Keith sings it first and then Michelle sings lead and then you decide which version you like better?

Michelle: Yes, we have done that too.

Keith: and it is always her version. You have male/female, which version we going with? Female…alright… (laughter)

Bev: Fans want to know where you will be next and how to stay in touch with what you are doing, where can they find you?

Keith: The new album is coming out May 10th, in stores, online, iTunes, etc. Please come out and support our live shows. We are really booking a lot of live shows. Also, check out our website. Facebook has really become our friend too, join us so when we get to your town to do a show, we will already know you.

Bev: As always, it has been really great talking to both of you and I am sure I will run into you again soon. Thank you so much for sharing and making the great music you do.

For more information on Burns and Poe please visit http://www.burnsandpoe.com/

transcribed by Pam Stadel

ARTICLE: Music Row Road Race with Jo Dee Messina

2011-04-10T09:00:00.000-07:00

On Saturday April 9th and the third year in a row Jo Dee Messina joined 1000's of runners in a 5K road race on Music Row in Nashville. The event took place at The Music Row Road Race started and finished at the Walk of Fame Park (across the street from the County Music Hall of Fame) which is located at the corner of Demonbreun and Fifth Avenue and was held to raise awareness and money for St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. Along with the 5K was also a one mile fun run for children and families to participate in.

Winners of the race were divided by age divisions and awarded plaques designed by patients at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Divisions receiving awards included Overall male and female trophy’s for first through third place, a Masters (40+) top three male and female and top three male and female in each age group.

Saturday evening Messina entertained participants in a concert at the Wildhorse Saloon where she brought an intimate evening of music along open questions, song requests and much laughter. The stage was a replica of her home studio, including sofas, soft lighting and the feeling of joining her for a personal show. Opening the show was The Lunabelles who sing sisterly-three-part harmonies with a mixture of a Bluegrass and down home country sound.

Jo Dee Messina has scored nine No. 1 singles and three No. 1 albums, has been honored by the Academy of Country Music Awards, the Grammy’s, and the Country Music Association. She currently has a trilogy of albums out called Unmistakable: Love, Unmistakable: Drive and Unmistakable: Inspiration.

“This is the third year St. Jude and I have teamed up for the 5K here in Nashville," Messina said. "I have been thrilled with the turnout and fundraising done by the runners in the past and am confident this year will be no exception. I am working to set up a St Jude 5K tour so that we can let runners all over help to raise money for St Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the amazing things they do.”

At one point during the evening Messina asked The West Point Glee Club to come on stage and perform a touching song dedicated to the service men and women of our country. The West Point Glee Club is a sixty-voice mixed chorus whose members serve as musical ambassadors for West Point and rank among our nation's most prestigious college choirs.

For more information on how you can help St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital visit http://www.stjude.org/

To view the photos of the Music Row Road Race visit http://MomentsByMoser.zenfolio.com/stjudemusicrowroadrace2011

INTERVIEW: The Roys LONESOME WHISTLE

2011-04-10T08:26:00.000-07:00

Bluegrass music is a unique art form that is as much about feel and instinct as it is technique. Blending proficiency and passion into a musically intoxicating package, The Roys make their debut with LONESOME WHISTLE (Rural Rhythm Records), a spirited set that showcases the siblings’ stellar vocals, taut musicianship and enviable songwriting skills.

I had an opportunity to visit with Elaine (1/2 of The Roys duo) and visit with her about the new project as well as some of the other exciting things happening for them.

Bev: Congratulations on winning the Inspirational Country Music(ICM) "Duo of the Year" for the second year in a row, such an honor. In your own words, describe how the genre of "International Christian Music", "Country" or "Bluegrass" makes a difference on your audience or how you choose songs.
Elaine: We always try to cut good material. Something that touches us or speaks to us. Usually by doing it that way, from the heart, it comes across to the audience that we are truly being genuine. We never think of what genre is this going to fit better. We let the song speak for itself. We always believe that if we sing from the heart and sing about what we hold true the audience will get it. It hasn't let us down yet.
Bev: Your current single, is “Coal Minin' Man" and released a week ago, for those who have heard it what has been the overall reaction?

Elaine: The reaction has been great. Everyone is commenting on how great our harmonies are and what a great message the song has. We wanted to pay tribute to those hard working folks. The label felt this was the first single off the album and it's been doing really really good for us.

Bev: What are your personal feelings towards the lyrics?

Elaine: I think the lyrics tell the story of the life of a coal miner in a positive light. All too often we hear the downside of the industry. We wanted to pay respect to their life's calling.

Bev: Your bio states that Bluegrass music is a unique art form that is as much about feel and instinct as it is technique. Where does the "feel and instinct" come from each of you?

Elaine: We grew up on Bluegrass and Traditional County Music and that is where our hearts are. We have been singing this type of music our whole lives. This feels like coming home for us. We are just writing and singing the music that we love and I think it really comes through on this album.

Bev: The "Coal Minin' Man" video was shot in Hazard, KY, how did the location get chosen and how much input did you have in the video?

Elaine: One of our friends on Facebook mentioned how she loved our song and that she had family members in the coal mining industry. Our management contacted her and then contacted the Teco Company in Hazard, KY and they said yes!! There was no script for the video. Once we got on location, Paul Jackson, the manager, brought us on the site to scope out the locations. The video director, Marcel, saw the locations he loved, we went from there. We wanted the miners to be the real focus of the video and I think we did that.

Bev: What was the best part of shooting this video?

Elaine: Meeting all the miners and seeing what they do everyday for all of us. We take for granted what they do, but seeing it up close really put a different light on it. They are very hard working men and women and we could feel how they loved what they did. It's their calling just like ours is music!

Bev: What was the worst part of shooting this video?

Elaine: There really wasn't anything that was bad about shooting the video. It did rain just a little bit and we were worried about our instruments getting wet; but other than that it was a perfect day!

Bev: You wrote the title track to LONESOME WHISTLE in two short hours while on the road in Maine one night. "The story is about a couple whose lives revolve around a train. The train carries him off to war, she sits and waits for the train to bring him back home - and in the end, the train does bring him home on his last ride." What was the inspiration behind the song?

Elaine: We had a title that we had written down a few months before. We were talking about the album and I told Lee that we needed to write something up-tempo and that is how it started. Though we didn't use the original title that we had, we just kept going back to a couple and their unending love. The train came about because when we lived in Coal Branch, New Brunswick, Canada and there was a train that ran right through the little town we grew up in. We head that lonesome whistle everyday, twice a day!!

Bev: This project is a culmination of a dream that began for each of you during childhood; when you were young, how did you envision the dream?

Elaine: Our dreams were very different than how our journey has unfolded. When you start out on your way to live out your dreams you think, this will happen if I do this, but sometimes that just doesn't happen. You can't plan for all the twists and turns that you run into on your journey. Sometimes it's been really hard to accept that this or that hasn't happened in such a way. What I know today is that I have no control over my destiny. God has a plan for our lives and we are going where he leads. I wouldn't change a thing because it has made me the person I am today. We appreciate everything that comes our way because we've worked hard and I don't think we would have been so appreciative when we first started out. It just comes with growing up!!

Bev: What is the craziest thing that has happened that you never could have envisioned?

Elaine: I think everything that has come our way, we could not have envisioned. Like meeting President George W. Bush, winning two ICM Vocal Duo awards, going to Bogotá, Columbia with Compassion International and meeting our two sponsored children. This list goes on and on. It's all been incredible!!

Bev: What dreams do you still have that you are reaching for?

Elaine: Singing on the Grand Ole Opry!!! That has been a life long dream of ours. There are so many others but that one is on the top of the list for me!!

Bev: I know you play guitar and Lee plays drums, bass and mandolin. What other instruments do you play?

Elaine: I only play the guitar. Lee got all the talent in the family lol!!

Bev: Which instrument is your favorite?

Elaine: I love all instruments when they are played well. I love the fiddle because our Grandma LeBlanc played it for us. I also love the dobro.

Bev: What would you like to learn to play and who would you like to teach you?

Elaine: I would love to learn to play the fiddle. I wish my Grandma LeBlanc could teach me because she sure played it so good!

Bev: You joined the ever growing "The Boot Campaign” this year supporting our military when they come home, and you also were involved in the Compassion International mission trip to Bogotá, Columbia, South America as well as being spokesmen for Compassion International and are sponsoring 2 children, what criteria do you have when asked to be a part of charity work?

Elaine: We love to give back. We feel so blessed to be able to be in the music industry and we really feel strongly about helping out where we can. If we believe in the cause or charity and they ask us to help, we love to do our little part. If what we do helps one person then it was all worth it!!

Bev: Is there any charity that is particularly close to your heart and why?

Elaine: We love St. Jude because of all the children that they help. Compassion International is very dear to our hearts too. Going to Bogotá, Columbia and seeing the extreme poverty that people live in really opened our eyes. Also learning that when you sponsor a child through Compassion that the $38.00 a month is not the most important thing. Writing letters to your child is the most important thing. Visiting homes and seeing where the children had their sponsors letters hanging on the wall like a piece of art was life changing. They live for those letters. Who knew that writing a letter to your sponsored child could change his or her life? Amazing!!

Bev: With the release of the current project, what feelings are each of you experiencing?

Elaine: Excitement, excitement, excitement. This is our first release on a label other than our own and it feels good. To be a part of such a great team and to know how hard they are working to make this happen is incredible. I can't wait for everyone to hear it.

Bev: As social media has taken over and video outlets such as YouTube are prevalent sources of interaction with fans, do you have a favorite or do you have any you particularly do not want to participate in?

Elaine: I really like Facebook. To communicate with your fans and have them react to your post immediately is great. I love reading all their comments to us!! We have the best fans!!

Bev: I have enjoyed the visit with you and appreciate you sharing your experiences and everything you have going on with The Roys; I always love to see you two!

Elaine: Thank you, you are always so wonderful to us and we appreciate all you do!

For more information on The Roys visit www.theroysonline.com where you can keep up with what they are doing and visit their Digital Rodeo, Facebook, Twitter, Myspace etc.

PRESS RELEASE: Tin Pan South Preview Party in MUSIC ROW MAGAZINE

2011-03-12T07:48:00.000-08:00

Songwriters, media, music industry, fans and more packed the Tin Pan South Preview Party at The Rutledge in Nashville this week to hear some wonderful music and learn more about this year’s Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival presented by Regions Bank. Nashville Mayor Karl Dean kicked things off before Marshall Chapman, Marty Dodson, Sandra McCracken and Steve Wariner—all of whom will be performing at the Festival—each performed a song.

“Nashville is literally off the charts in terms of being a creative city in North America, and it’s all owed to songwriters, musicians…it’s awe-inspiring, and it is what makes our city so unique and so special,” said Mayor Dean.

The 19th annual Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival will host over 350 songwriters performing over 80 shows at nine Nashville venues from March 29 – April 2. Each year, Tin Pan South donates proceeds from one show to a specific charity, and this year the Eating Disorders Coalition of Tennessee will be the beneficiary of the early show starring Dave Berg, Sarah Buxton, Jedd Hughes and Eric Paslay at the Hard Rock Cafe on March 29 at 6:00 p.m.  The festival schedule with a complete list of venues, addresses, performers and ticket prices is available at TinPanSouth.com.

(L-R) back: Lee Blank, Regions Bank Private Banking Exec.; Jim Schmitz, Regions Bank Middle TN Pres.; Lisa Harless, Regions Bank Sr. VP Ent. and Sports Division; and Erika Wollam Nichols, Tin Pan South Festival Co-Director. Front: Steve Bogard, songwriter and Pres. NSAI; songwriters Marty Dodson, Sandra McCracken, Marshall Chapman and Steve Wariner. Photo: Bev Moser

ARTICLE: CMA "Keep The Music Playing" All Star Concert

2011-02-02T13:00:00.000-08:00

The 2nd CMA Keep The Music Playing All Star Concert presented by SunTrust and hosted by the Country Music Association, the Nashville Alliance for Public Education and the Nashville Symphony Association. was held on Tuesday February 1st at the renovated Nashville Schermerhorn Symphony Center.

Hosted by country artist Luke Bryan the concert is an annual recognition of the future aspiring artists featured as a part of the Country Music Association's "Keep The Music Playing" efforts. The All Star Concert entertained a full house with performances by the Croft Design Center Orchestra (Conducted by Anna Maria Miller and John Womack)

Jones Paideia Elementary Magnet Super Stars (Conducted by Amy Alley), DuPont Tyler Advanced Band (Conducted by Kathy Ganus and Matthew Taylor);

Nashville School of Arts Jazz Ensemble (Conducted by Richard Griffin);

Pearl Cohn High School Concert Choir featuring solos by Deondrea Foster (Conducted by Llewellyn Peter);

and Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet High School Orchestra (Conducted by Sally McFadden and Marsha Hartwein).

The reveal of the new CMA Music Fest logo and poster was a highlight of the evening after encouraging words delivered by CMA President Steve Moore and Nashville Mayor Karl Dean.

Luke Bryan took center stage and performed an acoustic version of his hit song "Do I" accompanied by Sam Hunter, a member of the Nashville School of Arts Jazz Band.

For more information on "Keep The Music Playing" visit http://www.beinstrumental.com/

Additional photos of the event can be viewed at http://MomentsByMoser.zenfolio.com/cmaallstarconcert

PRESS RELEASE: 46th Annual ACM Award Nominations

2011-02-01T08:46:00.000-08:00

NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED FOR THE
46th ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC® AWARDS
COUNTRY MUSIC’S PARTY OF THE YEAR™

* * * *
For Additional Exclusive Photos of the Announcement Visit: http://MomentsByMoser.zenfolio.com/46thannualacmawards

FANS WILL VOTE AGAIN FOR ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR;
TOP NEW ARTIST CATEGORY FAN VOTED FOR THIRD YEAR IN A ROW

TELECAST TO AIR LIVE FROM MGM GRAND IN LAS VEGASSunday, April 3, 2011 at 8:00 PM live ET/delayed PT on the CBS Television Network

Miranda Lambert leads with 7 nominations;
Kenny Chesney and Zac Brown Band each receive 5 nominations, with Zac Brown receiving 4 additional nods;
The Band Perry and Taylor Swift each receive 4 nominations;
Lady Antebellum, Lee Brice, Easton Corbin, Alan Jackson and Keith Urban each receive 3 nominations

NASHVILLE, TN (February 1, 2011) – Nominations were announced today for the 46th ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS, a star-studded event produced for television by dick clark productions broadcast LIVE from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 3, 2011 at 8:00 PM live ET/delayed PT on the CBS Television Network.
Nominees were announced at a press conference this morning at the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum in Nashville. Country superstars Miranda Lambert and Ronnie Dunn read the nominations live during CBS’ The Early Show broadcast. As previously announced, Blake Shelton will join forces with country music star Reba to host the 46th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards.
For the third year, fans will select the winner of the Academy’s most prestigious honor, Entertainer of the Year and for the third year, the two newcomer categories for the annual Academy of Country Music Awards —Top New Solo Vocalist, Top New Vocal Duo or Group— will also be opened up to fan voting. The winner in each of the two newcomer categories will then move on to compete for Top New Artist, which is also a fan voted category. Online voting for all fan voted categories will be available at www.voteACM.com. The winners of Entertainer of the Year and Top New Artist will be announced live during the 46th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards.
This morning Miranda Lambert led with seven nominations, including Top Female Vocalist and her first ever nomination for Entertainer of the Year. In addition, Lambert was nominated for Single Record of the Year and Song of the Year for “The House That Built Me” and received two nominations for Video of the Year for “Only Prettier” and “The House That Built Me.” She is nominated for Vocal Event of the Year with Sheryl Crow and Loretta Lynn for “Coal Miner’s Daughter.” Lambert is the reigning ACM Top Female Vocalist.
Kenny Chesney is nominated for five awards, including Album of the Year for Hemingway’s Whiskey and Single Record of the Year for “The Boys Of Fall,” both of which he is nominated for as an artist and producer.   He is also nominated for Video of the Year for “The Boys Of Fall.”
Zac Brown Band is nominated for five awards including Top Vocal Group and Album of the Year. Zac Brown Band is also nominated for Song of the Year, Single Record of the Year and Vocal Event of the Year for “As She’s Walking Away” featuring Alan Jackson.
Zac Brown of Zac Brown Band also received four additional individual nominations as the producer for Album of the Year contender You Get What You Give, Single Record of the Year and Vocal Event of the Year for “As She’s Walking Away” and additionally as a composer for Song of the Year for “As She’s Walking Away.”
The Band Perry is nominated for four awards, including Top Vocal Group and Top New Vocal Duo or Group. They are also nominated for Single Record of the Year and Song of the Year for “If I Die Young.” Kimberly Perry of The Band Perry also received an additional individual nomination as a composer for Song of the Year contender “If I Die Young.”
Taylor Swift is nominated for four awards, including her second nod for Entertainer of the Year. If Swift wins Entertainer of the Year, this will be her first Entertainer of the Year win. Swift is nominated as an artist and producer for Album of the Year for Speak Now and she also received a nomination for Top Female Vocalist.
Lady Antebellum is nominated for three awards including Top Vocal Group. They are also nominated for Album of the Year as artists and producers for Need You Now. They are the reigning Top Vocal Group.
Lee Brice is nominated for three awards for Song of the Year and as both an artist and producer for Single Record of the year for “Love Like Crazy.” This is Brice’s first year to be nominated.
Easton Corbin is nominated for three awards for Top New Solo Vocalist and for Song of the Year and Single Record of the Year for “A Little More Country Than That.” This is Corbin’s first year to be nominated.
Alan Jackson is nominated for three awards for Song of the Year, Single Record of the Year and Vocal Event of the Year for “As She’s Walking Away,” with the Zac Brown Band.
Keith Urban is nominated for three awards including Entertainer of the Year and Top Male Vocalist. Urban is also nominated for Vocal Event of the Year for “Blue Sky” with Emily West.
Members of the Academy of Country Music select the nominees and winners of the ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS, and select the final top six nominees of the Entertainer of the Year category and the top three nominees in newcomer categories, Top New Solo Vocalist and Top New Vocal Duo or Group. Presenters and performers who will appear at the ceremony will be announced at a later date.
Following is the list of final nominees. Winners in each of the following categories, except where noted, will be presented with an ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARD during the live television broadcast:
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
• Jason Aldean
• Toby Keith
• Miranda Lambert
• Brad Paisley
• Taylor Swift
• Keith Urban
TOP MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR• Jason Aldean
• Brad Paisley
• Blake Shelton
• George Strait
• Keith Urban
TOP FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR• Miranda Lambert
• Reba McEntire
• Taylor Swift
• Carrie Underwood
• Lee Ann Womack
TOP VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR• the JaneDear girls
• Joey + Rory
• Montgomery Gentry
• Steel Magnolia
• Sugarland
TOP VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR• Lady Antebellum
• Little Big Town
• Randy Rogers Band
• The Band Perry
• Zac Brown Band
TOP NEW SOLO VOCALIST OF THE YEAR (Previously Announced)• Eric Church
• Easton Corbin
• Randy Houser
TOP NEW VOCAL DUO or GROUP OF THE YEAR (Previously Announced)• the JaneDear girls
• Steel Magnolia
• The Band Perry
ALBUM OF THE YEAR [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company] (TIE)• Hemingway’s Whiskey – Kenny Chesney (BNA)
Produced by: Buddy Cannon, Kenny Chesney
• Need You Now - Lady Antebellum (Capitol Records Nashville)
Produced by: Lady Antebellum, Paul Worley
• The Guitar Song – Jamey Johnson (Mercury)
Produced by: Arlis Albritton, Dave Cobb, The Kent Hardly Playboys
• Speak Now – Taylor Swift (Big Machine Records)
Produced by: Nathan Chapman, Taylor Swift
• Up On The Ridge – Dierks Bentley (Capitol Records Nashville)
Produced by: Jon Randall Stewart
• You Get What You Give - Zac Brown Band (Southern Ground / Roar / Bigger Picture / Atlantic)
Produced by: Zac Brown, Keith Stegall
SINGLE RECORD OF THE YEAR [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company] (TIE) • A Little More Country Than That – Easton Corbin (Mercury)
Produced by: Carson Chamberlain
• As She’s Walking Away - Zac Brown Band Featuring Alan Jackson (Southern Ground / Roar / Bigger Picture / Atlantic)
Produced by: Zac Brown, Keith Stegall
• If I Die Young – The Band Perry (Republic Nashville)
Produced by: Paul Worley
• Love Like Crazy – Lee Brice (Curb Records)
Produced by: Lee Brice, Doug Johnson
• The Boys Of Fall – Kenny Chesney (BNA)
Produced by: Buddy Cannon, Kenny Chesney
• The House That Built Me - Miranda Lambert (Columbia Nashville)
Produced by: Frank Liddell, Mike Wrucke
SONG OF THE YEAR [Award to Composer(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s)]• A Little More Country Than That – Easton Corbin
Composers: Rory Lee Feek, Don Poythress, Wynn Varble
Publishers:   A Sling And A Prayer Music (ASCAP), Chrysalis One Music (ASCAP), Don Poythress Songs (ASCAP), Precious Flour Music (BMI), Universal Music-MGB Songs (ASCAP), Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (BMI)
• As She’s Walking Away – Zac Brown Band Featuring Alan Jackson
Composers: Zac Brown, Wyatt Durrette
Publishers: Angelika Music (BMI), Weimerhound Publishing (BMI)
• If I Die Young – The Band Perry
Composer: Kimberly Perry
Publishers: Pearlfeather Publishing (BMI), Rio Bravo Music, Inc. (BMI)
• Love Like Crazy – Lee Brice
Composers: Tim James, Doug Johnson
Publishers: Mike Curb Music (BMI), Sweet Radical Music (BMI), T-Bird’s Music (BMI), Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (BMI)
• The House That Built Me – Miranda Lambert
Composers: Tom Douglas, Allen Shamblin
Publishers: Built On Rock (ASCAP), Sony/ATV Tree Publishing (BMI), Tomdouglasmusic (BMI)
VIDEO OF THE YEAR [Award to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)] *(Off Camera Award)• Hillbilly Bone – Blake Shelton Featuring Trace Adkins
Producer: Randy Brewer
Director: Roman White
• Only Prettier – Miranda Lambert
Producer: Trent Hardville
Director: Trey Fanjoy
• Stuck Like Glue – Sugarland
Producer: Tony McGarry
Director: Declan Whitebloom
• The Boys Of Fall – Kenny Chesney
Producer: Don Lepore
Director: Shaun Silva
• The House That Built Me – Miranda Lambert
Producer: Trent Hardville
Director: Trey Fanjoy
VOCAL EVENT OF THE YEAR [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company] *(Off Camera Award)• As She’s Walking Away – Zac Brown Band Featuring Alan Jackson (Southern Ground / Roar / Bigger Picture / Atlantic)
Produced by: Zac Brown, Keith Stegall
• Blue Sky – Emily West Featuring Keith Urban (Capitol Records Nashville)
Produced by: Mark Bright
• Coal Miner’s Daughter – Loretta Lynn, Sheryl Crow and Miranda Lambert (Columbia Nashville)
Produced by: John Carter Cash, Patsy Lynn Russell
• Cold Beer – Colt Ford Featuring Jamey Johnson (Average Joes)
Produced by: Shannon Houchins, Adrian Young
• Good To Be Me – Uncle Kracker Featuring Kid Rock (Top Dog/ Atlantic / Bigger Picture)
Produced by: Kid Rock

The Academy of Country Music is announcing nominees in the esteemed radio categories, which due to time constraints, are not televised during the 46th ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWRDS but are instead honored at a special pre-Awards reception:
Fan voting for Top New Solo Vocalist and Top New Vocal Duo or Group began at VoteACM.com and GACtv.com/ACM on January 28, 2011 and will close on Thursday, February 24 at 12noon EST. The winner in each category will be announced in March, and will move on to compete for Top New Artist. Fan voting for Top New Artist and Entertainer of the Year begins on March 11 at noon PT at VoteACM.com. Fan voting for Top New Artist will close at 5 p.m. PT on April 3 (before the LIVE show starts) and fan voting for Entertainer of the Year will close during the third hour of the LIVE broadcast.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Awards counts for artists reflect categories in which they have been recognized as individuals or as part of their duo or group. In some cases, an artist may receive more than one nomination which factors into their official count. For example, Lee Brice received two nominations in the Single Record of the Year category—one each as artist and producer—because that category recognizes both.
In addition, the Song of the Year category recognizes the artist, composer and publishing company as a nominee but does not recognize an individual as owner or partial owner of the publishing company.
Award recipients in each category are noted above parenthetically in the Album of the Year, Single Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Video of the Year and Vocal Event of the Year.
As previously announced, country superduo Sugarland will headline the first-ever ACM Fan Jam, a fans-only live concert event taking place in Las Vegas during and after the 46th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards broadcast. The ACM Fan Jam will take place at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, during and after the ACM Awards from the MGM Grand Garden Arena, and will give fans the ultimate opportunity to be part of the LIVE telecast. Throughout the three-hour live show from the MGM Grand Garden Arena, there will be performances from the Mandalay Bay Events Center by Sugarland and other top-tier music acts, to be announced at a later date. Tickets for the ACM Fan Jam are available now at Ticketmaster.com priced at $35 and $55.
ON-AIR PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR – NATIONAL
Kix Brooks - American Country Countdown with Kix Brooks
Big D and Bubba - Big D and Bubba
Crook and Chase - Crook and Chase Countdown
Blair Garner - After MidNite with Blair Garner
Lon Helton - CMT’s Country Countdown USA
Shawn Parr - The Country’s Hot List
ON-AIR PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR – MAJOR MARKETCliff and Brooks on KSON (Cliff, Brooks and Tori) - KSON-FM San Diego, CA
Trish Biondo - WUSN-FM Chicago, IL
Cornbread, Pat James, Annie Henson and Capt. Mac Douglas - WIL-FM St. Louis, MO
Dr. Don, Rachael Hunter and Grunwald - WYCD-FM Detroit, MI
Edwards & Lee (Chuck Edwards & Linda Lee) - WYCD-FM Detroit, MI
ON-AIR PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR – LARGE MARKET
J.D. Cannon - WFMS-FM Indianapolis, IN
Karen Scott & Radar - WMIL-FM Milwaukee, WI
Mike, Marty and Janie - WQDR-FM Raleigh, NC
Jeff Roper and Angie Ward - WTQR-FM Greensboro, NC
Chris Carr, Jason Statt and Maverick - WUBE FM Cincinnati, OH
ON-AIR PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR – MEDIUM MARKETBrian Pierce & Kellie Michaels - KFDI-FM Wichita, KS
Jack Ryan - WIVK-FM Knoxville, TN
Andy Ritchie, Alison Mencer and Jimmy Holt - WIVK-FM Knoxville, TN
Dan Brennan & Shelby Mitchell - WKSJ-FM Mobile, TN
Scott Wynn & Sue Wilson (Wynn and Wilson in the Morning) - WQMX-FM Akron, OH
ON-AIR PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR – SMALL MARKETBill Barrett, Tim Fox and Tracy Berry - KKNU-FM Eugene, OR
Brian Gary, Todd Harding, and Susan Moore (The Good Morning Guys) - KUAD-FM Windsor, CO
Jimmy Lehn and Shelly Martinez - WCTY-FM Norwich, CT
Mark Ericson and Karen Kiley - WOKQ-FM Dover, NH
Dex and Mo - WUSY-FM Chattanooga, TN
RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR – MAJOR MARKETKEEY-FM   St. Louis Park, MN
KNIX-FM   Phoenix, AZ
WPOC-FM   Baltimore, MD
WSOC-FM   Charlotte, NC
WYCD-FM   Detroit, MI
RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR – LARGE MARKET
KCYY-FM - San Antonio, TX
WFMS-FM - Indianapolis, IN
WGH-FM - Virginia Beach, VA
WMIL-FM - Milwaukee, WI
WSIX-FM - Nashville, TN
RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR – MEDIUM MARKET
WBBS FM - Syracuse, NY
WIVK-FM - Knoxville, TN
WKHK-FM - Richmond, VA
WKMK-FM & WTHJ-FM - Neptune, NJ
WYRK FM - Buffalo, NY
RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR – SMALL MARKETKCLR-FM - Columbia, MO
KCTR-FM - Billings, MT
KUAD-FM - Windsor, CO
WFRE-FM - Fredrick, MD
WYCT-FM - Pensacola, FL

The Academy of Country Music is announcing nominations for the Musician/Bandleader/Instrumentalist (MBI) and Industry Awards categories, which, due to time constraints, are not televised during the 46th ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS. These awards are presented to honorees at ACM Honors, an annual event held in Nashville in the fall.
MUSICIAN / BANDLEADER / INSTRUMENTALIST (MBI) AWARDS:
PRODUCER OF THE YEARNathan Chapman
Frank Liddell
Frank Rogers
Paul Worley
Mike Wrucke
AUDIO ENGINEER OF THE YEARChuck Ainlay
Jeff Balding
Drew Bollman
Steve Marcantonio
Clarke Schleicher
TOP BASS PLAYER OF THE YEARMike Brignardello
Kevin "Swine" Grantt
Larry Paxton
Jimmy Lee Sloas
Glenn Worf
TOP PERCUSSIONIST/DRUMMMER OF THE YEAREddie Bayers
Chad Cromwell
Paul Leim
Chris McHugh
Greg Morrow

TOP GUITARIST OF THE YEAR
Tom Bukovac
Pat Buchannan
J.T. Corenflos
Kenny Greenberg
Dann Huff
TOP FIDDLE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Glen Duncan
Larry Franklin
Rob Hajacos
Aubrey Haynie
Joe Spivey
TOP PIANO/KEYBOARD PLAYER OF THE YEARJim "Moose" Brown
Tony Harrell
John Hobbs
Gordon Mote
Steve Nathan
TOP SPECIALTY INSTRUMENT(S) PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Eric Darken
Mickey Raphael
Bryan Sutton
Ilya Toshinsky
Biff Watson
TOP STEEL GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Bruce Bouton
Dan Dugmore
Mike Johnson
"Cowboy" Eddie Long
Russ Pahl
INDUSTRY AWARDS:
CASINO OF THE YEARAgua Caliente Casino - Rancho Mirage, CA
Island Resort Casino - Harris, MI
Mohegan Sun Casino - Uncasville, CT
Peppermill Casino - Wendover, NV
WinStar World Casino - Thackerville, OK
NIGHTCLUB OF THE YEARBuck Owens’ Crystal Palace - Bakersfield, CA
Coyote Joe's - Charlotte, NC
Joe's Bar - Chicago, IL
Toby Keith's I Love This Bar & Grill - Mesa, AZ
Wild Bill's - Duluth, GA
VENUE OF THE YEAR
BOK Center - Tulsa, OK
First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre - Chicago, IL
Meadowbrook U.S. Cellular Pavilion - Gilford, NH
Ryman Auditorium - Nashville, TN
Sprint Center - Kansas City, MO
DON ROMEO TALENT BUYER OF THE YEAR
Steve “Bogie” Bogdanovich - Romeo Entertainment Group
Billy Brill - Billy Alan Productions
Jimmy Jay - Jayson Promotions, Inc.
Gary Osier - Gary Osier Presents
David Snowden - Triangle Talent, Inc.

PROMOTER OF THE YEAR
Ben Ferrell - Varnell Enterprises, Inc.
Ali Harnell - AEG Live/The Messina Group
Louis Messina - The Messina Group
Ed Warm - Joe’s Bar
Sally Williams - Ryman Auditorium

INTERVIEW: The Grascals "I Am Strong"

2011-01-31T12:55:00.000-08:00

Great musicians will always find a way to make good music, but for great musicians to make great music, they must form a bond – one that, more often than not, goes beyond the purely musical to the personal. For The Grascals, that bond has been forged at the intersection of personal friendships, shared professional resumes and an appreciation for the innovative mingling of bluegrass and country music that has been a hallmark of the Nashville scene for more than forty years. As their releases prove, The Grascals’ rare musical empathy gives them an unerring ear for just the right touch to illuminate each offering’s deepest spirit - whether they’re digging into one of their original songs or reworking a bluegrass classic or pop standard.

I recently visited with Kristin Scott Benson, one of the members of The Grascals to visit about the video that is hitting the emotions of listeners with it’s powerful lyrics and about their new project entitled “The Grascals & Friends” available at Cracker Barrel. The Grascals & Friends - Country Classics With A Bluegrass Spin is now available at all Cracker Barrel locations and online, with Cracker Barrel donating a portion of the proceeds from this CD to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

The Grascals bring their own bluegrass style to life on this exclusive new CD with eight of their friends, including Brad Paisley, Dierks Bentley, Charlie Daniels and Dolly Parton.

Bev: Kristin, 2010 was a great year for the Grascals and now you have the new CD in conjunction with Cracker Barrel. Visit with me about how this came about and why it is a perfect fit with the group.

KRISTIN: The Grascals have always tried to affiliate with other country artists. That is one thing that differentiates our band from most Bluegrass bands. We have ties with some of the people that are more mainstream. We always look for an opportunity to do an album where we feature some of those collaborations. The Cracker Barrel record was the perfect fit for that. On this project are folks like Joe Nichols, Dierks Bentley and Brad Paisley; some of the younger guys along with some legends, such as Tom T. Hall, Charlie Daniels, and Dolly Parton. There is a wide spread of artists on the album. That is something The Grascals have always valued. I think the affiliation we are most proud of is the one with Cracker Barrel, because it has such a recognizable brand. It is associated with so many of the traits that the typical Blue Grass audience members identify with which makes it a perfect for Blue Grass in general and especially for our band.

Bev: You mentioned Dolly Parton. The new video which features Dolly is out now which is also in association with St. Jude Children’s Hospital and Research which is also a highly recognized organization. How did that come to be?

KRISTIN: The highlight of the new record, we all agree, is the song “I Am Strong”. This is the song that the album really centers on. It was inspired by a trip to St. Jude and was co-written by Grascals member, Jamie Johnson. He visited St. Jude and saw signs or posters on the wall with blanks that the kids have filled in. The sentence started with “I am” and then they filled in the blank. There were all kinds of things, like “I am homesick”, “I am nauseated”, and “I am sad”. One kid wrote “I am vomit”. Just being a silly kid. There were all kinds of answers. But in the center of all of them it said “I Am Strong”. This statement inspired Jamie to write the song of his life. It has propelled us into a partnership with St. Jude that we are so proud of. It originally started actually with the Musician’s Against Childhood Cancer Festival which is in Columbus, Ohio by dear friends of ours, Darrel and Phyllis Atkins. They have a huge Blue Grass Festival which they have put on for many years. Then their daughter was diagnosed with cancer and became a patient at St. Jude and when they lost their daughter to a brain tumor and they turned the festival into a benefit for St. Jude. The bands that are involved with that festival already had a tie to St. Jude. The Grascals in particular had made some trips down to the hospital to present some checks from the proceeds of the Festival. That is how the tie with St. Jude originally started. Then when Jamie co-wrote this song, it just brought the Grascals even closer to the kids and to the organization as a whole. The video features a lot of the kids. Dolly Parton is in the video, but for once she is not the star. The little kids are who are acting so bravely.

Bev: There are two versions of the song. I have seen the video one with Dolly. But you also have a version which features a whole array of country artists. What is the purpose of having two versions?

KRISTIN: It is only one video, but there are two tracks on the album, one is a bonus track that features everybody from the record plus Terri Clark and Steven Seagull. The bonus track is at the end.

Bev: For those who have seen it, what kind of reaction are you getting?

KRISTIN: These kids are inspiring. Most of us in the band are parents. It breaks your heart to see these kids who are fighting such a serious illness at such a young age. After you are parents, dealing with your own kids, it really takes the compassion to a new level. When we play the song at shows people are overwhelmed. But when they see the video it really comes to light because they get to put faces with the ideas expressed in the song. You just cannot look at these kids and not be inspired. Another factor is that you see these parents and how brave they have to be. As sick as these kids are, it has to be even harder on the parents. Some of them are really young parents. If they have a two year old as a patient there, they may be only twenty five themselves. They all face it with such courage. For the very young kids, they are just living life what ever comes their way. They are not even aware of the gravity of the situation but the parents sure are! So you get to see them as well as the kids. It gives you the feel of the struggle they are dealing with. I think it is also a song of hope, which is what St. Jude is all about. From the very first meeting we had with them, they said the wanted to accurately portray the hospital. And the hospital is a place of hope. These kids are treated so well, especially the younger ones. They run around and play. It is almost like they do not realize that they are sick. St. Jude prides themselves on making this experience as painless as possible for the patient and for their families.

Bev: The group has had an insane last couple of years with all you have accomplished. Which achievements that you are most proud of?

KRISTIN: For one thing, the band’s continued longevity. The band is six years old. Sometimes you have that initial shot in the arm because you are something new and people being excited about you. But then you need to figure out how to sustain that. I think The Grascals have hit that point where everybody is burrowed in and we have proven that the band is in this for the long haul. That in itself is an accomplishment. It is a tough time to be a Blue Grass band but the band is thriving. Even with the current economic situation and I am thankful for that.

Bev: That is a great way of putting it, because the awards are great. But when you have that kind of friendship and the ties that you have, and to be able to say “hey, we’ve been around a long time”, that is very important, especially today.

KRISTIN: Yes, awards are nice but you have to make a living. We all feel so blessed. And we are lucky in that none of us are actually young in this band. We have so many years of experience with other bands. We realize how rare it is to actually be able to support yourselves playing music. We are incredibly thankful for that. I think one of the things that helps this band survive is because we realize it is a precious opportunity. You have to appreciate it and be thankful for it. Not too many people even have the chance to do that. There is a lot of gratitude in every single member of this band. We have all done it long enough to really appreciate it.

Bev: How has the social media impacted your band? By that I mean Twitter, Face Book, My Space etc.

KRISTIN: It is a huge part of what we do now. It really changes the dynamics of communication with fans. You can be very personal with them. I have some neighbor friends who had never seen the band and they are very well informed about what we are doing. I was amazed. I asked them how they knew all this and they said we are Facebook fans. They knew everything we were doing. It gives us so much accessibility to the fans and it is a tremendous asset. It would be foolish not to make use of it. And it is free! That is the best part.

Another thing that has been a great help to Blue Grass is satellite radio. It has made Blue Grass available to listeners twenty-four hours a day. We have never had the benefit of mainstream radio and this has given people a chance to hear the music around the clock. It is always there and it has grown the genre as a whole so much. We are incredibly thankful for that outlet. I think everyone has seen an increase in popularity since we have had that means of getting the music to people.

Bev: I know you are always doing new things that are fun and exciting. Aside from the new video you have out now, what will be next?

KRISTIN: Well, we encourage everybody to go to our website and check out the video there. And while you are there, look at our tour schedule. That is the best way for us to connect with fans. We would like for them to come to live shows and see us. We have a huge media run planned for the Cracker Barrel record. It starts in Nashville and then we go down to Florida and we go all the way up the east coast to New York. We will spend two or three days in New York City. We are very proud of this record and we do have a lot of stuff going on with that. We are very proud of the affiliation with Cracker Barrel and also with St. Jude. We want everyone to know that part of the proceeds go to St. Jude. That is another reason we are so invested in this emotionally.

There is one other record that I would like to mention. We are part of the fiftieth anniversary of the celebration of the Andy Griffith Show and Cracker Barrel. Cracker Barrel has put together a Fiftieth Anniversary Tin that they are selling in their stores. We are playing seven or eight songs from the Andy Griffith Show.

Bev: Kristin, always nice to visit with you and I am very excited for all that The Grascals have going on. Thank you for taking time from your busy schedule to chat with me.

KRISTIN: We certainly appreciate your time and thank you. We look forward to seeing you again too.

For more information on The Grascals visit http://www.grascals.com/

The Grascals & Friends - Country Classics With A Bluegrass Spin is now available at all Cracker Barrel locations and online, with Cracker Barrel donating a portion of the proceeds from this CD to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

INTERVIEW: Lee Brice

2011-01-31T10:02:00.000-08:00

The rugged feel of steel guitar and fiddle, the images of growing up in a world of fields and farms, of heartbreak and hard work … You can’t miss the fact that Lee Brice is country all the way

His voice, his sound, even his wide-open grin are as country as they come – but his view of life is much broader than that.

Lee Brice invited me to come and join him to visit about his crazy year and what fans can look forward to in the upcoming year.

Bev: Congratulations on a fantastic year! You have been so busy and had so many rewards this year for all your hard work. Please tell me where you are with the music and what is next on the horizon?

LB: Our new album, “Love Like Crazy”, has been out since June. It took awhile to get done. We have had three singles that have done well. But this album has really done something special; it put us on the map and got our foot in a lot of doors. Now we are moving on to the next single, “Beautiful Every Time”. It is currently on radio, and just broke top forty. I’m hoping that this one will do as well as the last one and be on the top forty for fifty weeks. I wrote this one so it better be good. (laughs)

We have so many plans this year promoting. I am booked up every day until March. I will be gone twenty days leaving on Sunday morning. One show after another; these dates are all in California. Then we start our “Higher Education Tour”. Jared Neiman and I have been friends for about ten years and we have always talked about being on the radio together and touring together. And now, here we are on the radio together and doing a tour! We plan to visit college markets and have a great time. Also I will be out with Willie Nelson all summer. So this whole year is filled with new experiences for me. It seems like we stepped up to the first step with “Loving Like Crazy” and now we have stepped up to the next step. So if you get a few of those in you can slow down to some extent. I love playing shows, but we probably did two hundred fifty shows last year, plus I did acoustic events over and above, so it would be nice if we could slow down a little too. It looks like another year of putting our head down and just rocking it!

Bev: I know you have been in the business a long time, but you really started to get attention when you wrote “More Than a Memory” for Garth Brooks, which was a huge hit for a mega-star country artist, talk to me about the expectations and the added pressure you feel after a start like that.

LB: “More Than a Memory” debuted at number one and that it is a record that can never be broken. It can be tied but it can never be broken. So when that happened I thought, “So where do I go from here?” It must be all downhill. Then came “Love Like Crazy”. As a writer it was so cool to have “Love Like Crazy” and be an artist on it, a singer, to have it break all kinds of records. It broke a forty eight year old record of being on the charts for fifty weeks! I am simply blessed to have had these experiences, and I try to do my best with every song and not focus on the records set and breaking new ones.

Bev: Being on the road so much, how has it changed your priorities and your goals?

Lb: Before two thousand seven, I was writing songs every day. It was about building up a catalogue of songs. Now I do not have time to do that. I just went out and picked out a new bus for the upcoming year because I am living on the road. I am home for two days and I do not feel like working. I want to relax and I need to recharge. While I am on the road, I bring my friends Rob Hatch and Lance Miller, who I wrote “Beautiful Every Time” with, and Rhett Akins, who is an artist as well, John Stone and Billy Montana with whom I wrote “More Than a Memory” and “Seven Days, a Thousand Times”. These are the guys I have been writing with for years. Jerrod Niemann and I will also be writing on the tour. While on the road, you write at all hours of the day and night. But right now while I am so busy, we toil to find just the right vehicle for me, not just any old song. It has to be a killer that we know will not be ignored. We take our time writing it, we do not write it all in one day. Right now it is more about quality not quantity. But to be honest, I think the quantity year built that muscle for me so that now when I do not have a lot of time to write, I can write a good song.

Bev: Do you have certain things that you find that inspire you such as love songs, human nature kind of songs? You are good at that. Do you find that you are drawn to that?

LB: I am drawn to those kinds of song, always have been. Some of my favorite songs growing up were “A Lady Down on Love” by Alabama; “Holding Her and Loving You” and “Baby Blue” by George Strait; and “The Dance” by Garth. I personally love that stuff. As a songwriter, it is fun to write. As an artist, I need songs like “It Ain’t Goin’ Down Till the Sun Comes Up”, because that is rocking. One of my biggest shows that I have ever seen is Garth Brooks doing that very song. He would get you rocking and then he would bring you down slow with him and a guitar. It is like a roller coaster ride, bringing you up and down; very dynamic. People are having an experience. But yes, those heart break songs and love songs are really me. I have to control myself from writing those every day because I have enough of those in my catalogue. I need some of those rocking songs as well.

Bev: I read recently in another interview with you about being single and the kind of person you are and what you are looking for in a person. Was that uncomfortable for you to reveal so much personal information or are you an open book?

LB: Well, I am kind of an open book. I am dating someone now and she wonders why I never talk about her. But this is how I arrived at this place where I am now and that is what people are curious about.

Bev: Going back to the album, when meeting with the fans, what do you hear most often from them about which song means the most to them or the personal connection to your music?

LB: A lot of people come up to me and want to talk about “Love Like Crazy”. So many people heard it and were affected by it in a lot of different ways; however, a lot of people also say “Beautiful Every Time” is their favorite song. I have heard comments that the album as a whole is a good mix--kind of like that roller coaster effect I was talking about. It is an album that took us over a year to put together, so it is old music to me, but it is new to everyone else. I will be ready to go ahead and start a new project.

Bev: What is the most difficult thing for you to deal with being gone so much?

LB: I was lucky enough to be warned and prepared by fellow artists and by my producer on what to expect. I was mentally prepared me for this. I think there are a lot of artists who make it big kind of quickly and who are just not ready to be gone on the road so much. It is a tough thing; luckily I was prepared years before it actually happened. However, it still is not easy. Every night when you get on that stage and they are singing your song and I get to play guitar, it makes you realize that this is what I dreamed about when I was a kid and it makes it all worth it. Sometimes you feel like you do a lot of work and it does not feel like it is worth it. For example you do a show for a station and they still do not play your song. That is tough to deal with. But you have to realize it is what it is and you put your head down and the blinders on and wake up in a new city and play another show. One day it will calm down, I will play fifty shows a year and just enjoy life.

Bev: Let us go back to what you mentioned about dreaming as a kid. Where did you start out singing when you were young? Where did you first start performing?

LB: It was definitely in church. I grew up in church. My mother sang every Sunday. I was in the choir. My daddy was singing in gospel quartets. All we listened to in our house, all I ever knew there was gospel quartets. Sandy Patti and Christian kind of music; a little bit of Alabama, Oak Ridge Boys, The Beach Boys. When I was seven years old I sat at the piano and played “Oh, How I Love Jesus” in front of the church. I did not do a lot of playing after that until I was eleven or twelve. Then I would sing solos in church. I would play a couple of songs that I wrote for the guitar in front of church. I won a couple of contest in High School and when I was in college, I continued writing songs; I have been writing my own songs since I was ten years old. I really did not play for money until I got to Nashville. I did have a band back home for a couple of years, a local home town band. We did some of my songs that I wrote and also rock and roll, country, everything. So really four years ago when I hit the road, that was the beginning for me.

So now I am looking forward to the Higher Education Tour, which should be fun. I am doing the Country Throw Down Tour with Willie Nelson and Jamie Johnson and Randy Hauser. I grew up listening to Willie singing “Help Me Make it Through the Night”, and all his music, and listening to him as a song writer. Being on the road with him, I want to spend as much time as I can with Willie while I am there.

Bev: Lee, you are so amazing and inspiring, I always enjoy spending time with you. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and thank you for the music. I look forward what is next and wish you the very best of everything.

LB: Always enjoy seeing you and visiting with you as well, and will see you again soon I am sure. Thank you for wanting to do an interview, I appreciate it.

For more information on Lee Brice visit http://leebrice.com/

ARTICLE: Little Jimmy Dickens 90th Birthday

2011-01-21T10:54:00.000-08:00

Little Jimmy Dickens or as some know as “Tater”, celebrated his 90th birthday with friends, family as well as fellow Grand Ole Opry members and country music artists at Rippy’s on lower Broadway in Nashville on January 19th. His birthday was a month earlier on Dec. 19th.

Nashville Mayor, Karl Dean took part in the festivities and to proclaim Dickens, "A man with extraordinary stature in the music business and beyond." Danielle Peck led the crowded room singing “Happy Birthday” and later Sherrie Austin and Bryan White both were on hand to assist with cutting the guitar shaped cake.

Sherrie Austin - Little Jimmy Dickens - Bryan White

Some of the guests included Bill Anderson, The Moore Sisters, Carrie & Debbie, Cerrito, Georgia Middleman, Guy Gilchrist, Jan Howard, Keith Hilbrey, members of Riders in the Sky, Jessie Coulter and John Conlee as well as many more music industry friends and fellow country artists.

Photos of the event can be seen at http://MomentsByMoser.zenfolio.com/ljd90thbirthday

REVIEW: Garth Brooks Nashville 10 "The Rescue Party"

2010-12-27T07:35:00.000-08:00

The old saying states it is better to give than to receive, yet Garth Brooks accomplished both when he announced his benefit concert aptly named “Nashville 10 The Rescue Party” for Nashville flood relief. His giving started when the nine sold out shows garnered more than five million dollars in concert tickets and merchandise sales alone, with 100% of the proceeds going to the Community Foundation of Tennessee for Flood Relief. The donations brought much needed financial assistance to those who still struggle to rebuild homes and lives after the devastation of the May floods. The generosity and giving spirit encompassed not only the star of the show and his talented guests, Trisha Yearwood and Steve hotels and volunteers who all donated their equipment, time and talents. Due to the generosity of so many, lower Broadway businesses directly affected by the flood were “flooded” with business during the weeklong concert series, resulting in sales reports well above average and generating much needed revenue. One fan from Dallas said “Having spent my time in Nashville as a “tourist” I felt energy in the town that I didn’t expect. I spent an afternoon walking downtown, stopping in many shops along the way. It seemed to me that the town was abuzz and the native Nashvillian’s were genuinely grateful for the influx of folks brought to town by this monumental event. I had a mental image and expectation that there would be an element of depression in the area, but it’s clear that Nashville is resilient and focused on coming back better than before.” Many business fronts decorated their windows and hung banners thanking Garth for his support and boosting the economy. During the final show, Mayor Karl Dean took the stage to present Garth and Trisha with a framed commemorative thank you poster for the efforts and assistance to the city. In addition to concert donations, Mayor Dean reported an estimated $15 million dollars was brought to the city in hotel revenue alone.

Wariner, but also included the entire production crew, countless individuals and too many businesses to mention; from catering and merchandise to

Opening the early show every evening for the duration of the concerts, and also contributing backup vocals was Wilmington, NC native Karyn Rochelle, currently a Nashville songwriter with hit singles such as "I Wonder", "Red High Heels", and "Don't You Know You're Beautiful" for Kellie Pickler, and also "Georgia Rain" and "This Is Me You're Talking To" for Trisha Yearwood. The tone of gift giving co

ntinued as concert attendees received a copy of Karyn’s new EP which was given out after each show as a thank you for the support to the cause.

A highlight of the event and continuation of the “giving” came for Ms. Yearwood during the Friday night performance. According to her Facebook status post she wrote “Last night. Nashville. Marines on stage with me singing "How Do I Live"...it does NOT get any better than this!” The Marines were part of many who were on hand for the “Toys For Tots” collection which was stationed in front of the Bridgestone Arena for all nine of the concerts. Another big moment during the week came when NFL Alum Ray Carolin delivered over 14,000 toys which arrived by semi-trailer trucks accompanied by Santa Claus on Sunday afternoon. “The opportunity to help Garth in his efforts to help our buddies in the U.S. Marine Corp. and their Toys for Tots program is an honor.” said Carolin. The toys were donated by a number of children’s to

y and sporting goods companies, and Spalding Sporting Goods.

The first three performances were filmed those serving in the Military; those giving up so much and making the ultimate sacrifice for the United States. On December 25^th and again on December 26^th, the AFN (Armed Forces Network) aired the concert for the troops as a great big thank you and Christmas gift. Each night during the nine shows, Ms. Yearwood announced the taping and the audience response was deafening, with repeated chants of USA echoing throughout the arena. “What an amazing gift for our troops over seas to have an opportunity to see the show broadcast. Couple this with the entire “gig” being about charity and it gives an entirely different perspective on what is driving Garth and Trisha. So much of what they are involved in now revolves around charity. They are giving more than the gift of music.” a concert attendee who traveled to Nashville from Dallas shared with me.

Each night the performance seemed to get better and better, and those who attended all nine of the shows attested that Garth still has it; he has not forgotten how to entertain and make every person in an arena holding 17,000 people feel like they are the only person in the room and each show special. Garth alluded many nights that some of those in attendance were not even born when he started his career, but looking around the crowd, one could see fans of all ages filling the arena and most everyone knew every song he sang. Seventy-three year old “Ms Nita” said she “had never seen anything like the Garth show…she stood with her eyes wide and enjoyed the music. It was something she would never forget, something she would remember forever!! And what a wonderful young man he was.” A fan from New York told me “The love that pours out from his audience to him and from him to them is

quite magical. When he connects with an audience member and you witness it, you can't help but be almost as happy as the person is... and the reaction from the lucky ones is nearly always identical... a look of shock, and then turning to the person next to them and high-fiving them... it's so much fun to watch!”

Remember in the beginning I mentioned that it is better to give than receive? Well, Garth also received much love, respect and gratitude from the fans that have waited all these years for him to perform on stage again. A favorite part of the show for everyone is the encore, or as Garth likes to call it, “housekeeping.” Fans never know what songs he will do and what signs he will honor. It is usually him and his guitar as he sings songs requested off the many bright colored poster board signs seen throughout the arena. Many of them requested older album cuts and when he performed them he was always in awe of the fact the audience would sing them right back to him as loud as if they were his biggest hits.... and he was humbled by that every time. He said “singing every word back to me is the best gift I could ask for.”

During the press conference held before the show on Thursday, Garth affirmed the end of the Rescue Party is not the end for his live shows. Garth’s scaled-down, acoustic performances in Las Vegas will continue, and Trisha has already given him a go-ahead to hit the road again once his daughters are no longer living at home.

“With Miss Yearwood’s blessing, once the children get off to school and we feel like we can kind of be our own people, I’ve asked her blessing to fire this tour back up for one more run,” he said with his charming smile. “I would love to go from city to city, and I’d love to do it at a price that is reflective of what I feel should be out there that I’m not seeing. No offense to anybody, but people need a break, and they need to have fun, and so she has said yes.” Fans can expect him to hit the stage close to 2014.

The definition of BELIEVE is to have confidence or faith in the truth of (a positive assertion, story, etc.); give credence to and with the Christmas following just days after the final encore you can say there is no such thing as Santa, but after witnessing all the miracles and generosity that emerged from these performances, I BELIEVE!

INTERVIEW: Rachel Holder "Christmas Eve"

2010-12-13T19:23:00.000-08:00

In a town full of attractive Country stars, it takes a lot for a young female singer to stand out and catch the attention of Nashville’s music industry crowd. Eighteen -year-old Rachel Holder is up to the challenge.

“I’ve already learned that it takes more than a few good songs to make it in Nashville,” says Holder. “These days, I don’t think that there’s any one formula for success; I know you have to have faith in yourself, passion for the music and a serious will to succeed. And great songs!” she emphasizes.

Rachel Holder embodies youthful energy and a spirit that is refreshing and new. Her voice is powerful and strong and will win you over whether she is singing an original tune or a cover song. We recently met in the studio for a chat before she did a radio show to talk about her new holiday song titled “Christmas Eve” and her bright future and journey this far.

Bev: Rachel, you are not a newcomer to the music business by any means. Share some of your experiences that have gotten you to this point.

Rachel: I began performing when I was younger in contests, competitions and school talent shows. I got my first real job at age thirteen at Pigeon Forge and I performed about 200 shows that first season. The second season, I did two shows a day for about 300 shows a year! I guess you’re probably wondering how did I do school with all that? I was home schooled. But the first year I worked there I was in 7^th grade and I would go to school Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday; then I would perform at Pigeon Forge and come back Sunday and then go to school on Monday; it was pretty crazy.

Bev: All of the determination and your desire truly shows.

RACHEL: I love the music business and that’s how I grew up. God has given me a talent and it’s amazing.

Bev: Coming from that kind of a background, where you really had to learn discipline, what’s the one thing that you gained the most from that experience really early on? What’s the one thing you think you’ve carried forward from that?

RACHEL: My experiences made me grow up early. I learned about the real life and real life experiences that others do not have to face so quickly, that has given me a step up I think.

Bev: Have you had an opportunity to perform with any other artists?

RACHEL: I have! I performed with Vince Gill and sang a duet with him. I opened up for James Otto and some other artists, Crossing Dixon to name a few.

Bev: Most artists have a vision of what they think the industry and business side of the music is about; what has surprised you the most?

RACHEL: Everything is surprising! Everything in the music industry is surprising. There’s nothing that’s dull about it, I can tell you that!

Bev: Has there been anything that’s scared you or what do you worry about?

RACHEL: I think we all get the doubts in our heads. What if this song doesn’t do good? I think we worry about that the most. And all the waiting around, then you start worrying is it ever gonna happen? So I think that’s what scared me the most.

Bev: Let’s talk about your Christmas song "Christmas Eve" out on radio. Did you write the song?

RACHEL: No, I didn’t. Curtis Frasca and Maria Christiansen. I fell in love with it and we got in the studio and recorded it. These past three weeks have been so crazy and we’ve worked so hard, but I think the outcome has been amazing.

Bev: Was it hard for you to do a holiday song and get into the holiday season before it was really in full swing?

RACHEL: You have to get yourself in Christmas mode. That’s the fun. We shot the video on October 1^st and we did most of the recording in September and October; we really had to gear up for the season little bit early.

Bev: With so much already achieved, what are your goals for the future? Do you prefer to be a solo artist? Do you have any other aspirations on where you want your career to take you?

RACHEL: My goal is to keep putting out my music, keep getting more fans and just soon having a platform where I am recognized as a respected female country artist.

Bev: Do you have an “I know I’ve made it when” picture in mind? Have you had yours or is there something that you are reaching for?

RACHEL: We all have that “Pinch yourself” kind of moment, and I think it changes as you evolve.

Bev: What has the reaction been to listeners who have heard you sing “Christmas Eve”?

RACHEL: Oh they love it! When I perform it they love it and when they see the music video and they hear the song they’re like “Oh my gosh, Rachel, I can’t believe that’s you!” So it’s amazing to hear the feedback.

Bev: Rachel, it was wonderful sharing this time with you and I know we will see each other again. Your future is bright and I wish you a very happy holiday season and hope all your wishes come true this year and for many years to come.

RACHEL: Thank you very much. I am looking forward to seeing you again as well and appreciate you taking the time to interview me and support my music.

For more information on Rachel Holder visit http://www.rachelholder.com/

INTERVIEW: Nathan Lee "Bar Room Hymns"

2010-12-13T17:49:00.000-08:00

NATHAN LEE - THE SHORT VERSION:

He writes songs about desperation for those in despair, who no longer wish to be desperate.

He sings songs about brokenness for the brokenhearted, who no longer wish to be broken.

NATHAN LEE - THE LONG VERSION:

Darkness. Spotlight. Piano.

His journey, through minefields and madness of the music industry, has taken him to the edge of the abyss. He’s danced along its edge and flirted with the shadows. In fact he’s wallowed in the bleak and black desperation of uncertainty – professionally, personally, spiritually. And though he may still occasionally walk the tightrope over that abyss, he’s found his way out of the darkness. It was music that led him back into the light. Just like it always has.

Lee resides in the in-between – of chaos and order, sin and salvation, joy and pain. There’s a bracing honesty in his refusal to provide easy answers for the complex characters and narratives he creates. You can hear it in the songs of his projects "Risk Everything" & "Bar Room Hymns". They are unflinching in their honesty, uncompromising in their artistry. He possesses the hallmark of all great artists – an ability to find and communicate honest experience no matter how painful or euphoric.

Born into music, his father ran a recording studio in Pennsylvania, just outside New York City, Lee caught the performance bug at an early age. After honing his skills in the Northeast bar and club scene, he moved to Nashville when he was 19. Once there, he began writing with a friend who had a record deal. That led to a publishing deal for Lee with EMI. He learned to treat songwriting as a craft, but writing for other artists left him in search of his own distinct voice as a performer.

2010 brought the unknown and the uncertain. Nathan focused more of his 2010 performance schedule on cause related shows in U.S. Prisons & Military bases overseas. He finished writing "Bar Room Hymns" and took the songs to 22 year old producer, Zach Hall. (Released in November 2010) The sound of this project is unlike anything Lee has recorded thus far, Yet, staying true to his artistry.

As for 2011….God only knows….. Nathan is once again committed to a residency at 12^th & Porter in Nashville called “GIVE A DAMN SUNDAY", a series he will do for the month of February with proceeds will go to local charities each week.

Nathan is one of the best people I know, he speaks from his heart and sings from his soul and his journey has touched many people along the way. Always facing challenges he states that “Staying creative while not burning out & keeping my heart gentle” is one of his biggest hurdles.

As many musicians and artists will share with you, the misconception of what we think we want and what reality has in store is sometimes difficult to swallow; he honestly answered “Well….My dream was bullshit. My heart is music. My passion is people. I moved to Nashville 16 years ago…..and it has taken me almost 16 years to learn that your dreams and your heart might not be fond of each other. Dealing with that reality is what makes you a man…for better or worse.”

Couples think long and hard about naming their children, people put thought and meaning into naming a pet, and artist put a lot of effort into the title of their CD and album projects. “Bar Room Hymns” is who I am and what I do. I’m a Bar singer…and I sing songs to give people hope…..in Bar Rooms.” Explains Lee “I think it came to me when I was trying to explain to my accountant what it is that I do for a living.”

Every person relates to music personally and every individual has their own relationship with a song. When I asked Nathan about his he confided with “It’s my time alone….Capturing emotions and words and melodies. Once a song is finished, everything changes….and it becomes commerce. That’s not a bad thing…..but the intimacy of chasing down a song is the best day I could ask for.”

In times of economic strain and change, many have secretly wished to win the lottery, to have just one wish to do whatever they wanted with, I asked Nathan if he could achieve anything musically, what did he hope for. “I would build a tour model without losing my butt, and have the financial outcome help others in need. This world doesn’t need more rock stars …. but they sure as hell need more hope. I’m slowly working towards this model. It’s gonna’ take a few more bucks, and possibly a few more mistakes … and I’m praying that I can retain the strength to see it through. I’d like to be part of something that involves real music, and helping people get ahead in their not-so-perfect emotional situations, without losing money. I hate the word “could” …. so I’m working towards figuring it out. In the process of learning how to do this, I’ve also had to do some unlearning as well. It’s going to take a team. This kind of heartbeat requires some serious clarity and a specific vision/direction. One day at a time … one breath at a time.”

With every “new baby” comes new obstacle and choices, Nathan and I spoke about “Bar Room Hymns” and what he struggled with during the creation of this project. “Honestly…this one wasn’t difficult. When I handed the songs over to Zach Hall, I completely let go. The tricky part was figuring out which songs to record. We had a lot of songs. As far as creative direction….I trusted him; and I’m glad I did. Zach Hall might be the best kept secret in Nashville. He rolls out of bed every morning with a fire under his belt, and the ability to keep a gentle heart. Hanging in the studio with him is about as good as it gets. He’s far more interested in creativity and what feels good, than he is impressing. We’ve written together over the years….and every time I left his studio with a demo, I’d be driving away thinking “Damn…that kid is good; he knows how to find a heartbeat”. He also knows how to work fast, which allowed ideas to be captured quickly. I couldn’t think of anyone better to take these new songs to. He aced it. We released it without mixing or mastering. I’m damn proud of It!”

Anyone who knows Nathan Lee knows he stands out on his own and as an individual. His style and his persona is not a copycat of anyone else. When asking him about how is “fans” were accepting and reacting to his latest CD, he responded with ”Let me start and finish by saying this. The word “fans” has never sat right with me. It’s very acceptable in country music and I believe it’s because country music listeners are far more sincere than other genres of music. That being said, I don’t want fans, I want intimacy! Do you realize how many years it has taken me to learn this? Of course I’d like to sell out Madison Square Garden, but not at the risk of being some Record Labels puppet, or selling my soul and time to a marketing/PR FIRM. I’m an artist. I wake up every day and make art, and at night I share that art; In bars and clubs. If there comes a night when 300 listeners turns in to 3000 listeners. Fantastic! But a man can’t sing songs about Brokenness and Healing and act like a Rock star; that’s the simple truth! I prefer not to re-learn the lessons that taught me that simple truth, Otherwise I’d be a loudmouth poser and God knows we don’t need anymore of those.”

"I hope you hear my heart in this....I'm grateful to anyone who listens to the songs I write. Truly grateful. But I don't need my ego stroked to feel good about what I do. If that’s the path to musical success, I’d rather be a failure. The beauty in getting older is I want to make music for the people who want it; not the people who don't.

I'm pretty certain I wouldn't have said this ten years ago, and I'm curious as to what I'll think of these statements ten years from now.

The one thing I do know, there's more to learn. I’m certain of this.

For those of you who have shown me support; I am grateful for you. And if it's okay with you...I'd rather call you my friend, instead of my fan. Cool?"

BAR ROOM HYMNS TRACK LIST / DESCRIPTION IN NATHAN'S WORDS

1. INTERLUDE

The “Interlude” happened during the recording process. Near the end of recording the piano parts, Zach asked me to just sit down and play for a while. He recorded about an hour of solo piano parts. I’ve always wanted to open and close a record with solo pieces….I’m glad we did it.

2. NEW YORK CITY

“New York City” was actually written in NYC, over a period of 3 years. The lyrics are actually journal entries. Every time I was in NYC, I ended up thinking about back home, which is only an hour from the city. Earlier this year, I compiled all the entries, and turned them in to a lyric.

3. WHAT LOVE IS ALL ABOUT

“What Love Is All About” was written the day after I got home from the 40 Day Risk. I was exhausted. I was sitting in front of a bible and a big ass bottle of whiskey….and I was clueless on what was next. These words are the quiet whisper I heard after a lot of prayer.

4. SILENT CROSSES

I wrote this with my buddy Rique Patire. After a long conversation, one thing we realized was simply this…..we all have heartaches that we carry….the question is. “Will you carry, or will you be carried”

5. LITTLE BOY

There’s only one person I could of written this with…Tony Lucido. Tony is one of my few buds who is willing to break down the honest truth about moving forward as a man. It’s not comfortable subject matter….But it was important to us to take a look back, and look forward, at who we’ve been, and who we want to be.

6. WOULD YOU LOVE ME ANYWAY

I wrote this song 10 years ago with Marty Funderburk. I’ve had it sitting around ever since. When Zach went through my catalog, he instantly said that it needed to be on the record. This song isn’t easy for me to sing. It hurts. It’s honest. And I’m happy we finally released it.

7. DOWN.

“Down” was written in early 2010 in L.A. with Wyatt Earp. Wyatt is a true cowboy, and an amazing artist, writer, and actor. Zach took this song in a different direction from the way Wyatt and I originally wrote it. Originally, it was another minute and a half longer…..Zach made some serious changes. This one was tricky for me in the recording process. I’m guessing that I’ll take back to the original template for Live shows, but I’m really happy that we took some chances with this one in the studio.

8. GOTTA' KEEP MOVIN' ON

“Gotta Keep Movin’ On” was written a couple years ago with my buddy, Kyle Wyley. It was one of those rainy Mondays, when we couldn’t seem to find our next step. This song has been a bit of an anthem for me over the past year.

9. USE YOUR VOICE

“Use Your Voice” was written for a non-profit called World Vision. A buddy of mine, Jonny Morgan, was hired to shoot a video for them to help raise awareness, and help musicians get involved. In the process, they gave him 20 words to use as an outline for the storyboard. Jonny gave me those words, and I put em’ all in a song. For me, it was a fun and challenging writing process. When it was all said and done, we put the song on the new record as well. I’m proud of this song. I truly hope that More musicians use their abilities to help World Vision. It’s an amazing organization that truly gives hope and restores faith all over the world.

10. CARNIVAL LIGHTS

“Carnival Lights” is the one song on the album that makes me take a step back. The sound…the lyric….the mood….it feels like the old me and the new me all wrapped up. We used a vocoder on this track…..something I was making fun of only 2 years ago. I’ve become exhausted on survival in the music business. I’ve grown to realize that I’m not willing to do the things it takes to survive in the music business, simply because the value I have for people is starting to change. This was my gentle “F - You….It’s time to start being honest about what really matters”

11. POSTLUDE

The “Postlude” is what it is…..a gentle exit….without the words.

For more information and to order his AMAZING new CD visit his website http://www.nathanleemusic.com/

Press Conference: "RUDY" Ruettinger and Ross Browner

2010-12-13T13:57:00.000-08:00

When one hears the name “Rudy”, most everyone immediately connects it with the 1993 classic inspirational movie “Rudy.” On Saturday December 11^th, Mount Juliet was blessed with the real life “Rudy” as Mr. Daniel Ruettinger, the world renowned playwright and name sake of the 1993 Rudy and his Notre Dame team mate, Ross Browner, served as Co-Grand Marshall’s of the 2010 Christmas Parade.

Winning isn't everything-it's the only thing!" In the famous words of Coach Vince Lombardi, Ross Browner knows what it means to be a winner. Browner is a Nashville resident and one of the most honored and decorated collegiate players in history, who went on for more than a decade of NFL notoriety. At the University of Notre Dame he was a four-year starter at defensive end, voted All-America his junior and senior seasons and won the Outland trophy as the nation's best interior or defensive lineman. The United Press International named him Lineman of the Year and is the only player ever to win it twice. The Lombardi Trophy , Maxwell Award were also handed to Browner and he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1999.

He was the first round draft pick in the 1978 NFL Draft for the Cincinnati Bengals. Voted the team's Most Valuable Player in 1978, he played nine seasons for the Bengals. He set the Super Bowl record for tackles by a defensive lineman in Super Bowl XVI. Browner played one season (1987) with the Green Bay Packers before retiring.

Rudy transferred to Notre Dame in the Fall of 1974. His focus at Notre Dame was his studies. Rudy was so inspired to actually attend this University, that had been such a Dream for him as a child that he would do what ever it took to keep his grades up and earn the respect of his peers. While at Notre Dame, Rudy developed another Dream to play football for the Fighting Irish. Rudy walked on the team under the coaching staff of Ara Parseghian in 1974. He played his guts out and treated every practice like it was a real game. Rudy Never Quit and won the respect of his team mates. It was this enthusiasm that eventually got Rudy in the game to live his second Dream. While in the game Rudy saw an opportunity make his move. He got the tackle. “When the ball moved I moved,” said Rudy. Rudy didn't get the tackle because he was lucky. He prepared, he persevered. He worked everyday and set his goals every day no matter how tough it got so when his opportunity came, he was ready.

The movie RUDY is a True Story. Rudy's dream was real, the tackle was real, the carry off was real. The struggle was real. The victory was real. The movie was made to tell a story that would inspire others – to let people know that no matter what the odds are, they can overcome them – they can win. No matter what your background, your grades, your size – you can find a way. It won't come easy. The message is clear that you need to struggle, you need to prepare to earn your dream. It's all about The Dream, The Struggle, The Victory!

ARTICLE: CMT "Artist of The Year"

2010-12-01T14:49:00.000-08:00

Taylor Swift and Zac Brown Band

HONORED IN CMT’S FIRST STAR-STUDDED “ARTISTS OF THE YEAR” SPECIAL

Hosted by Kevin Costner with Performances by Carrie Underwood, Darius Rucker with Adele, Jason Aldean and Aerosmith’s Joe Perry, Maroon 5 and Zac Brown Band with Amos Lee

Presenters include Celebrity Chef Cat Cora, Hayley Williams of Paramore,

Boston Red Sox’s Josh Beckett, Kid Rock, Kix Brooks, Luke Bryan, Martina McBride,

Alabama’s Randy Owen, Randy Travis and Smokey Robinson

90-Minute Special Taped Last Night In Nashville and Premieres Friday, December 3 on CMT

NASHVILLE – December 1, 2010 – The stars were out last night in Nashville to honor CMT’s first ever ARTISTS OF THE YEAR, Carrie Underwood, Jason Aldean, Lady Antebellum, Taylor Swift and Zac Brown Band, for their successes of the past year. Hosted by Kevin Costner, CMT ARTISTS OF THE YEAR will premiere Friday, December 3 from 8:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m., ET/PT on CMT and CMT.com.

During the 90-minute special, taped last night at the Factory in Franklin, the honorees were brought together with their peers, as well as celebrities from across the entertainment spectrum, including celebrity chef Cat Cora, Hayley Williams of Paramore, Boston Red Sox’s Josh Beckett, Kid Rock, Kix Brooks, Luke Bryan, Martina McBride, Alabama’s Randy Owen, Randy Travis and Smokey Robinson who served as presenters for the glamorous evening. Kevin Costner opened the night by taking the stage and reminding the five honorees that, “Tonight is about you. It’s not just about numbers this past year…it’s about impact.”

Some of the night’s honorees chose to perform their hits such as Jason Aldean, who kicked off the evening and was joined onstage by Aerosmith’s Joe Perry for the rockin’ “My Kind of Party”; Zac Brown Band who sang their new single “Colder Weather” joined by the soulful Amos Lee; and Carrie Underwood, who performed a medley of hits from the past year including “Cowboy Casanova,” “Temporary Home” and “Undo It.” Honorees Taylor Swift and Lady Antebellum looked on as their hits were performed by others; Maroon 5 surprised Taylor Swift by performing her latest hit, “Mine” as the country superstar danced and sang along; and Darius Rucker and Adele performed Lady Antebellum’s smash “Need You Now” as the trio watched in appreciation. Surprises were also in store as the honorees watched pre-taped segments that included words of praise from their biggest admirers, including Charlie Daniels, Reba McEntire, Ryan Seacrest, Selena Gomez and more.

The night was filled with tears of gratitude and appreciation as the honorees took the stage to thank those who have aided in their recent successes. Zac Brown Band accepted their Artist of the Year trophies first, which were presented to them by friend Kid Rock. Carrie Underwood gave a tearful speech as she accepted her award from legend Randy Travis and Jason Aldean gave thanks to everyone who has supported him in his career thus far after receiving his award from Alabama's Randy Owen. Taylor Swift obtained her trophy from close pal Hayley Williams and Martina McBride presented awards to her former tourmates Lady Antebellum.

In addition to the television taping, the evening also included an elegant three-course dinner created by the James Beard Award-winning chefs RJ Cooper (Washington, D.C., 2007); John Currence (Oxford, Miss., 2009); and Michael Schwartz (Miami, Fla., 2010), and chocolate truffles inspired by the night’s honorees created by Nashville chocolatier Bethany Thouin.

Over the past 12 months, Carrie Underwood, Jason Aldean, Lady Antebellum, Taylor Swift and Zac Brown Band have collectively received over 2.5 million plays of their current songs; sold over 8.5 million copies of their current albums; sold over 21 million individual downloads of their current singles; and topped both the touring and CMT.com charts, proving themselves to be the top country artists for 2010.
CMT ARTISTS OF THE YEAR is produced by Audrey Morrissey and Chad Hines. John Hamlin and Margaret Comeaux serve as executive producers for CMT.

See EXCLUSIVE RED CARPET PHOTOS by Bev Moser @ http://MomentsByMoser.zenfolio.com/cmtartistoftheyear

Carrie Underwood, Jason Aldean, Lady Antebellum,

INTERVIEW: Kevin Costner

2010-11-19T15:22:00.000-08:00

IEBA (INTERNATIONAL ENTERTAINMENT BUYERS ASSOCIATION) presented a performance by actor and musician Kevin Costner with his band MODERN WEST followed by a question and answer session led by GAC on-air talent Suzanne Alexander. The performance and Q&A session took place on Monday, October 4th in the main ballroom of the Hilton Hotel downtown Nashville as part of the IEBA 40TH ANNIVERSARY CONFERENCE October 3rd through 5th in NASHVILLE.

Executive Director Tiffany Davis said: “We are thrilled to have such a renowned entertainer as Kevin Costner not only perform, but spend time with our attendees in an intimate setting. It was a rare, but very special gift to our members, and a top highlight of our 40th anniversary.”

SA: Kevin, thank you for taking time today to visit with us and share your music, and your insight. Last night, you played the Opry and with it being such a landmark and cherished venue for so many, I am wondering how you sum up the experience?

KC: Thank you, I obviously seen some wonderful nights in my life and that has to rank right up there with the things that have happened in this thing that you call your own personal journey. Those were the only two shows that I actually had butterflies all day for; the Opry, I’m kind of uneasy the whole day.

SA: (Speaking out to the audience) I don’t know if you know that or I don’t know if you guys have had the opportunity to get the Grand Ole Opry house; but they refurbished and renovated the whole thing after the May floods and it’s just AMAZING. Each dressing room has its own theme and of course, loving this man next to me, I immediately went into the “Friends and Neighbors” dressing room and that the title on the door and there are pictures that grace the wall of the artists that have played there, the artists that have visited and people that have visited and friends of the Opry. And there is a perfect picture of Kevin standing there in the six foot circle of the original Ryman wood and the WSM microphone and I thought, “Wow, I can’t wait for him to see it”. I’m assuming you did?

KC: I didn’t get to but I’m going back, although I don’t recall that woman coming out and asking me back. That’s fine! (Laughter)

SA: Performing on the Opry you told about the song “Angels Came Down” and I know John inspired you to write that and asked you to play at the original Opry, the Ryman Auditorium, to bring that full circle and to perform those words back on that stage must be emotional on so many levels.

KC: It’s important. Everybody’s trying to write a hit. Everybody’s trying to write a “catchy” tune and the thing I’m most proud of with this band is that the music has driven us. I don’t know that we’re a record band, maybe will be, but my whole desire was to play live. And wherever I was making movies at in the world, I was playing music again. So our desire was to play live and I guess we are just singing to the choir here, because that’s what we do. How I have this connection with people the last 20 years is a mystery to me, but a lot of people have gotten their first kiss at a movie they saw that maybe I was in, so it’s been great for me to connect with audiences all over the world that have actually seen movies and the curiosity goes away after about the first minute of the song and then we get to what an event wants to be all about, us playing music, original music, for them.

SA: We’re going to be opening up for questions, but for those who may not know your background, your passion for music started with, really along with your passion for film. It was just the film and the acting kind of took off first, but really if people look back at I think maybe the “Postman” in 1997we heard you sing a duet I think maybe of “Rain”, so it’s always intertwined.

KC: I think music has always been in our household, probably very similar to your own. I grew up in a Baptist church and I my grandma was always head of the choir, and my mom and her sister sang and I was made to play classic piano. Music was always something that was a part of me as was performing. And then the movies started to work really well for me and I got a bad critic on this one time for playing music from one particular person, so I just thought, “I don’t need this headache” so I dropped it. It was my wife 8 years ago saying “I don’t think you should let these people scare you away from what you love, you know you enjoy the movies, but you enjoy music more.” She goes, “Those people who think they know you have a better chance of knowing what your personality is when they see you onstage playing music than when they see you on Jay Leno giving interviews.”

SA: The tagline on your latest album is called “Turn it On” and I interviewed you for “Untold Truths” for that first CD and it really played into the man I got to know through a lot of your movies and westerns that you have and it so reminded me in “Untold Truths” of this expanse of freedom and of loving and traveling. But with the new album, it really speaks to you on, you know, “get it on”. (Grinning) It’s sexy! But when you look deeper into that, yes, the title cut is about relationship, but it also speaks to maybe metaphorically of you “jumping in” and doing it without fear. Of taking the stage and pursuing your love of music blindly without fear.

KC: I think there are a lot of things that hold us back in life. You know, for as much as my parents loved me, when I announced that I was going to go into acting it, the reaction was “Oh no! No, how are you going to do that?” And then my dad’s concern was, they didn’t want me to be embarrassed, they didn’t want me to be humiliated. I think we all have that in common for our children in that we want them to succeed MORE than ourselves and in our lives, especially as men, I can’t speak for women, but as a man there is an overwhelming feeling that your son has found his way. That he is somehow happy. So when I told my dad I was going to play music and do movies, he was like “Oh my god.” And then I realized that I was going to Direct, he was like “Oh my god.” He said, “the acting is going so good…” (Giggles) So, the people that love you have a tendency to maybe hold you back, not on purpose but because they love you so much. If I have learned anything, it was not telling my dad about going into music. But we do, we are scalded in our lives, were all connected. You all have the right to reverse the direction and take that fork in the road. I hope if it’s something speaking out loud to you, that you do that. For a lot of things, it’s for a lot, not just one thing, I’m really happy that the people that love me said “go back and do music”. I am glad to have done it. I had no idea that it would lead to a stage like this tonight.

SA: You mentioned that your wife, Christine, and by the way, Kevin and Christine just had a baby girl! Little, Grace, how old now?

KC: Yea, now I have three in diapers so if you want to feel really bad for me then you can start right now. (Laughs) and my wife has never seen anything like boys. She desperately wanted a girl, but she looked at the boys and they were jumping from everything and breaking almost everything and just can’t quite believe the DNA of a boy. But we’ve got a lot of pink going on in the house right now so that’s good.

SA: You mentioned this and Christine probably said “Honey, go do that”, but when are you going to get home though? (laughing)

We are going to open up the questions for the audience now, so if you have a question please come forward to the microphone.

Q: Thank you, this is a life or death question for Kevin. Suzanne, my name is Daniel Rice, I’m a member of IEBA and my wife happens to have watched “Message in a Bottle” over 50 times!

SA: Do we love Garret or what?

Q: She’s such a fanatic over this and she said, “Please let me come today!” and I said, “No way, there’s no way you’re going to get within the length of a football field of that guy!” and she’s home right now and she said, “ Well, will you at least give this message to him?” So this is the message with really a question to you, Kevin. She is undoubtedly your #1 fan and if you don’t read that and hopefully respond positively to it, I am dead! (Laughter) [hands Kevin the note]

KC: I have your life in my hands…

Q: I told her that there was no way I was going to be near you at all ,so I thank you for taking this question…her question is “Do you plan to do a part II of “Message in a Bottle”?”

KC: Number one, I’m not going to let you down, buddy. Number two, I don’t think that you should have to watch another 50 episodes of me!

Q: Well, let me tell you, I didn’t say WE watched it. (Laughter and clapping)

KC: Good point! I was going to remind you that I die in that movie, so I don’t think that will happen unless we go back to the early years or something.

SA: Going back to your live performance, and I’ve had the opportunity to witness Kevin live onstage at several opportunities, I see that one of the refreshing things with you is that “kid in a candy store” and that is no where else you would rather be and that includes your band members. You guys seem like you are having a blast. Do you feel like that? Do you feel WOW! This is cool.

KC: Yea, it’s given me a chance to have a real, what I call “authentic” relationship with the music, because a lot of times there’s too much distance with the big screen that goes up between us. I spend life being observed and the truth is that I like being a part of the party and music has given me a chance to be in a room and have an experience and a real authentic one. And I do love that. I think whenever you are with people, there is an opportunity for great things to happen.

I tell you what, I’ll tell you a little story. And maybe I’m going to eat up the time here, but just to let you understand that fame is an interesting thing. You know when we had the first song out, there was a call to go out to and sing one of those songs. I remember I was with 50 or 60 of my colleagues and we were in a soundstage all day and now the end of the night came and I felt like I had met everybody coming in and met the families and those that were in the war and I’d met everybody going out. And I was tired and I think you can all relate to being tired. And I walked out of the soundstage and I started heading towards my car. And I heard a voice, “Kevin” and I selfishly realized that I was at a kind of distance that I could ignore it. Actually I was far enough away, that it was a reasonable thought that I maybe could just not have heard. And I heard it again, “Kevin”. And I just felt that I had met everyone, and I was done, and I was really, really done but I heard, “Kevin”. I could tell that the voice stopped at that point and had accepted that maybe the distance was too great, but I knew at that moment that it wasn’t and I stopped. And I turned around, and I said, “Yes?” And it was a woman and she said, “Can I talk to you for a second?” I said, “Of course.” So we closed the distance and she came to me and said, “I need to thank you.” And I said, “Why?” and she said, “Well, my husband is missing in action, I think he’s a prisoner of war.” Right away I was glad I had stopped. She said, “In your movie “Dances with Wolves” I remember when you were captured too. And you were in chains and your friends came to save you in that movie, and they did. And they brought you home, and there was a woman “Stands with a Fist” and I’ll never forget how you got off your horse and how she ran up the hill and you began hugging and kissing and falling into the snow and never stopped kissing.” She goes, “I want that for myself. And when I see that for him and when I watch that movie, I think of him. And I think, will we ever have that moment? “ So I was, as you can imagine, I was really glad that I had stopped and heard that particular story. I went home and got the negative of that movie and I cut out those three frames of that image and sent it to her. I’ve had so much and I do love performing and out of that, sometimes, these stories come.

SA: It’s interesting for my own sake, looking at your career, how hard it is for you to make this music, recording it, going out and touring, here in the states, over in Europe. Recently you flew halfway across the world to play in Kazakhstan. Is it what you thought it would be, because you have been so concentrated these last few years that you’ve been doing these interviews. Is it what you thought this would be?

KC: Well, it’s been greater than I’d thought. You know, when I finally had to go back and make the fundamental decision of, do I go back into music? My wife helped me, she heard three years of earlier music and said, “Why don’t you do this? I’m so happy when I listen to your music, I think other people will be too. “ I thought, no. Because I would remember that one critical notice and so for three years I was like a child that wouldn’t take out the garbage or wouldn’t cut the lawn. And she kept saying, “I think you should do this music.” And I’d say no. She asked me, “Why?” and I said, “Oh it was a thousand reasons.” Finally, she knew I was a little bit afraid and she knew me as a not being a person that was afraid. So she said, “Kevin, let me ask you a question. Are you happy when you play music?”
I said, “Yeah.” She said, “Do you think the people that are in front of you are happy when you are playing music?” “Not the people that are writing, the people that are there in front of you?” and I said, “Yeah, I think they are happy.” And she looked at me and she said, “Well, what can be wrong with that?” a huge burden came off my shoulders and I said, “Yeah, I’m going to start playing again.” And that was five years ago.

SA: How have you changed in these last few years? How have you changed as an artist, as a performer? Singer? Songwriter? Have you noticed a bit of a difference in where you were?

KC: Well, I’m a part of a band that really challenges each other and I feel like my life is a journey. As you must feel your life is.

SA: Opening up to questions from the audience again …question up here in the front.

Q2: Hi, Kevin, I’m Gary Good from Gary Good Entertainment out of Oklahoma City. I’d like to know what your music influences were and then the second part of the question, what’s the difference when you jump on stage as a musician and jumping on stage as an actor?

KC: The influences, it’s funny, I was born in Compton, California and so I grew up with Motown, but my family is from Guymon, Oklahoma. My family, my grandfather lost everything in the dust bowl. And so the stories of my own life are so rooted in America and that particular experience. I grew up with Motown and I still make cowboy movies. So the middle of the country is my heritage. My family came from Germany in the 1600s to the Carolinas and married some Cherokee women and went on the Trail of Tears to Oklahoma. The influences were where I was born, but I think what is in my soul is the history of our country.

And the difference between making movies is that making movies is very dry and you have to find the energy. I was a little tired this morning, you were probably a little tired, but can you imagine being on stage and hearing the drums? You just can’t stop but get caught up in the wave and the fact that you clap for me, you didn’t have to do that. But you made me feel very welcome. And I’ll admit that I needed that. That made me feel welcome, so it’s kind of amazing what we do for each other. People never realize that that smile is a kind of thank you that you give somebody. We have such an opportunity to affect the person’s life in a positive way, what we actually have is just a way to thank them. It just depends on what we decide to give. So for my band, for that little clap, if you think this is all old hat stuff for me, it’s not!

SA: Your music seems to have an arm. It’s very all-inclusive in subject matter, I know speaking for all these women here in the audience, that there is a sexiness that exudes, that is so natural for you on film, it comes through in music and especially in this new album “Turn it On”. The song that stands out called “Maria Ne” and I wonder for you, as a kind of artist, is there songs that you seem to gravitate towards when you are looking to record or looking to perform on stage?

KC: I’m not the best writer in our band, In fact if the other guys weren’t there, the songs wouldn’t be as good as they are. I try really hard, but one of the things I do, is that I decide what we play and I insist that the cream get to the top. It doesn’t matter if it’s my song or it doesn’t matter if somebody’s written two songs in a row, the cream will go to the top. We will write about our childhood and I think Mark Twain said it right, he said, “If you’ve lived your life correctly, you will never forget your childhood.” And then obviously the majority of our songs are about men and women and that juxtaposition, that thing why we can’t get along, and why we ultimately have to be together. So you know, we do bounce around quite a bit and if something strikes us, you’ll see we’ll write an historical song.

SA: I think we have time for one more question from the audience.

Q3: Kevin, I’m Old Mother Hubbard from Las Cruces, New Mexico at New Mexico State University and we’d like to invite you to come to campus. I just wondered if you wouldn’t mind sitting down with some of my students and doing a workshop when you come.

KC: Well, she kind of cornered me when she pulled that Old Mother Hubbard thing (laughter)…I know, women know how to corner men. You know, they’re smarter…you guys are smarter and you don’t fight fair.

Q3: But we love!

KC: Yeah. (smiles coyly) I plan on making quite a few movies in New Mexico, so I’m going to be in the neighborhood. If Old Mother Hubbard will bring me a few cookies and some COLD milk, I do like talking to students because students are hungry. They’re hungry for the truth and you know what? They’re not any different than us. I mean sometimes people look at us, at our age and people think we’ve got it figured out and we don’t. And the best thing that you can do when you are talking to students, or talking to a group of people is open yourself up so that there can be an actual exchange. I hope that something happened here between you and I. That last song that we sang was “something that happened to me, has it happened to you? To my own heart I’ve tried to be true. Hey man, what about you?” I think we, in that name of music, we should drop what we feel and let the beat carry us along and understand that we can be a part of the party. Our lives so quickly go back to what we have to do, you know? There are these moments where we get to kind of enjoy and when you do, take the whole moment. Anyway, if I’m close, I do enjoy talking to college students, cause I was a mixed up one. And it’s important to let them know that.

Q3: I will change the diapers when you come down.

KC: You know what, I don’t mind changing the diapers. It was always kind of a joke they tell on television or something like that, “you change diapers? Really?” Like it’s a big deal. “You know why I change diapers? It’s really simple, because the connection you have with your child, what you are saying to your child at that moment is; I’m willing to take care of you at your worst. A bond forms when you are willing to take care of a child, when they are the most uncomfortable and they need you the most. So people can make a joke about it, but I think those bonds come from that moment when you change just the way they feel.

SA: I think in summary, maybe looking to the future , we’ve got two albums from you. “Looking To The Truths” and “Turn it On”. What are the plans and the balancing for your film work and your music career?

KC: I never fail to feel how graceful an interviewer you are, how you wind things. I’m not trying to put you front and center. No, but you really are. I’ve interviewed with a lot of people and to somehow wind it back to home is an art form. So thank you. And as I try to answer that question, what are the plans?

I want you to know that there has been no master plan for my life. I haven’t tried to make a calculated life. I have tried to go to the things that I love to do. And I do love making movies and I do plan on making some more, directing more. I plan on making more cowboy movies and I plan on singing more. But at this moment, my life to me is a bit of a mystery. I’ve gotten on this globe and I don’t know how my life is going to play out. But I know wherever I go, I will be giving my maximum effort to those people I find myself in front of. Whether it’s just a simple conversation or a woman who wants to have that conversation that I’m not sure I want to have and turn around and make that moment mean more to her. I think when you show up in life, there is always an opportunity for something great to happen. [looking to the audience]Thank you for helping me, because you have helped me. You’ve helped our group when we’ve felt like outsiders, you made us feel welcome. Thank you and I know you are all probably going home to your families tomorrow, but thank you for choosing to be here and watching “Modern West”.

SA: The incomparable Kevin Costner, everyone! (Clapping)

For more about KEVIN COSTNER & MODERN WEST, visit kevincostnermodernwest.com/. For more on IEBA visit www.ieba.org.

Exclusive photos of Kevin Costner, along with other special performances during the convention can be viewed at http://MomentsByMoser.zenfolio.com/ieba2010

Edited by Bev Moser

Transcription by Tricia Dapelo

PRESS CONFERENCE: Martina McBride Joins Republic Nashville (Word For Word)

2010-11-19T07:14:00.000-08:00

On November 8^th, in the rotunda of the Nashville Country Music Hall of Fame, Scott Borchetta, President and CEO of Big Machine Records announced to invited media guests that the talented and beautiful Martina McBride would be joining the sister music label, Republic Nashville. Below is the transcription of the press conference:

Scott Borchetta:

I think this might be my favorite room here in the Hall of Fame. I always look around and say “Will the Circle be Unbroken.” I think of all the work that we all collectively do to make sure that the circle stays complete. In August of 2005, right before we officially launched Big Machine Records, I signed a girl named Taylor Swift right here in this building, in the Community Room right here at the Hall of Fame. We were a brand new label, with big dreams and high hopes, and I had a couple of people who believed that we might have a chance to do it. And we thought, “Why not sign her at the Hall of Fame? Why should we not aim to make history?” Well, just last week Taylor did just that with the debut of more than a million copies sold of her new album, “Speak Now”, a feat that has only happened sixteen times in the sound scan era. And it has only happened twice for a country artist, the other one being our good friend Garth Brooks. So why not dare to dream? When she and I were talking about what we hoped might happen in the first week of sales for “Speak Now”, we dreamed of selling a million unit’s the first week. Dreams do come true.

Speaking of Garth, I think we all would like to thank him for the amazing things he is doing for our city. Just this past weekend, he sold over one hundred and forty thousand tickets for the nine shows and possibly counting that he is going to do here in Nashville for our flood relief and our flood victims. (applause) I think we all just so appreciate what he does on a daily basis for country music. Speaking of Garth, one of the last times we were in this room was around the time that the label had turned two years old. We were able to announce, with Garth, in this room, that we were able to achieve one of his dreams, when “More Than a Memory” shattered all first week airplay records, and debuted at number one on the Bill Board chart. Dreams come true. (applause)

So in 2007 I came into my executive meeting and I said “Hey guys and girls, I have a crazy idea. I want to start another label. Shoot holes in this plan.” We went over the whole plan and thought this plan just might work. November of 2007, we opened the Valory Music Company. And as many of you know, I have worked with Reba McEntire for quite a long time. I was with her during the nineties at MCA. We had a wonderful bond and a great working relationship. I had always dreamed that she might want to come over to our new label group. So in August two thousand nine, Valory Music Company released Reba’s titled album “I Keep on Loving You”. Reba had always dreamed that she would have an album debut at number one on the Billboard top two hundred album chart. Well, that dream came true on August eighteen, two thousand and nine. We also achieved her longest running number one single of her career earlier this year when “Consider Me Gone” rode atop of the country airplay charts for four weeks. Obviously working with Reba for me is; a dream come true. An interesting statistic about Valory, every act we have signed to Valory; Reba, Justin Moore, Jewel, and Jimmy Wayne have all had either a number one album or a number one single. Dreams come true.

Right when the industry started to get used to the fact that we had two labels, my good friend Jimmy and I started scheming and scamming about starting a third label. Jimmy and I previously worked together at DreamWorks. We opened the Republic Nashville label in the spring of last year. We have already had break out success with The Band Perry who are on the way to a platinum single and a gold album. I am proud to say the CMA nominated The Band Perry. And it looks like we have a big old hit with Sunny Sweeney. One of the dreams that we had was could we build something that would have the appeal and the opportunity and the ability to lure a superstar artist. And that is what today is about.

(He hands the microphone to Jimmy) When you hear the name Martina McBride, you immediately think of one of the most powerful voices in any genre of music; a voice that drove eighteen million albums sold, a combined total of seven CMA and ACM top female vocalist of the year awards. She has had twenty-four top ten singles and six number one singles. Even more impressive than that were the songs that inspired and moved a generation such as “Independence Day”, “Broken Wing”, “Concrete Angel”, and “In my Daughter’s Eyes”, just to name a few. What I find even more amazing is that after all of this, Martina’s music and her new music still gives me goose bumps and evokes strong emotions. Last week, Scott and I, Martina’s team and Allison Jones had the honor to sit and listen to her new music. I am telling all of you it is absolutely incredible.

Scott Borchetta: The Country Music Hall of Fame is not just about the history of country music. It is a home for dreams. It is a beautiful place to house those dreams and those dreams that do come true. It is a destination, not just for the preservation for our music and for our fans, it is a destination for those who dare to dream. Today, for the Republic Nashville, a dream comes true. Please welcome the newest member of the Big Machine label group, on Republic Nashville, Martina McBride.

Martina: Thank you guys for being here today on this incredibly exciting day for me. John and I moved to Nashville in nineteen ninety with a big dream. I am living proof that dreams do come true. All I ever wanted to do since I was four years old was sing. I have had an amazing career. We have been fortunate enough and blessed to have sold a lot of records and get to see the world and all of the great fifty states that we have. I have had an amazing life. I had a great eighteen year partnership with RCA and Joe Galante. We had a wonderful run. When this opportunity came up, to work with Jimmy and Scott, it just felt right. Change is not always easy. Sometimes it is difficult. All I could see was the future, my future. I have the utmost respect for them and everything they have done. Their passion and excitement and energy are contagious. I am so excited to have that passion and energy and excitement focused on my career now. I am over the top excited today to be here. I cannot wait for you guys to hear the new music. I am fired up and feel like I have a focus and energy for making music that I have not had in a long time. So, here is; to the future. (applause)

Scott: Before we go to the press, I think we have one or two questions right quick that we are going to address.

Q: Martina, it seems like you have been working with a lot of interesting people lately like Train, Kid Rock, and TI. Can you share if you will be releasing anything out of the ordinary?

Martina: Well, we are doing a rap record. Did we not mention that? ( a joke) Creatively for me it is such an exciting time right now because I have had a lot of interesting opportunities come across my plate these past few months. I just try to be open to any opportunities that feel right. We did Crossroads with Train a couple of days ago and it was unbelievable. I cannot wait for you guys to see it. It was such a great night. He is such an amazing singer. We had a great time. As for Kid Rock, TI and Dave Stewart, who is playing a show here in Nashville on December ninth and I am excited about that. I just want to take every opportunity I can right now that feels right for me and for my fans. I want to have fun.

Q: Along that line of questioning, you are combining forces with some of the biggest up and up and coming artists with this new venture. Any new label mates you might consider collaborating with?

Martina: Well, you know it is no secret how much I love Reba McEntire. Obviously, any time I can be in a room with her just talking let alone singing is a thrill for me. And of course The Band Perry, I am really excited for them. I think they have an amazing future.

Scott: Thank you all for coming. We are going to do a couple of photos and then Martina will be available for the TV and Video press. Thanks again.

Exclusive photos of the press conference are available at http://MomentsByMoser.zenfolio.com/martinarepublicpc

ARTICLE: Country Strong Movie Premiere

2010-11-18T22:23:00.000-08:00

Nashville played host to a star-studded movie premiere Monday night. "Country Strong," starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Tim McGraw was filmed in Nashville and follows a fallen country star as she tries to make her way back to the top.

Paltrow plays Kelly Canter, the country star trying to reenter the industry, while McGraw plays her husband and manager, Ed.

The movie had its world premiere in Green Hills.

"I'm thrilled. I'm really proud of the movie," Paltrow said to reporters outside the Regal Green Hills Cinema.

Paltrow spent several months in Nashville while filming the movie and said she fell in love with the city.

"I really got so into the culture, the stores and the food. It was just great. I mean, I think it's a really special city and I feel really lucky that I got to come and be here," Paltrow added.

Country star, turned actor, Tim McGraw said filming the movie in Nashville was a bonus for him.

"Especially for a movie that's such a heavy movie, to be able to come home and sort of shake all that off is fantastic," McGraw said.

"Country Strong" was shot in Nashville last winter, making music city the back drop for this major motion picture.
Butch Spyridon of the Convention and Visitors Bureau said the attention the movie gives the city will be a very good thing.

"We'll see visitation. We'll see increased awareness and we'll benefit on a lot of levels - probably pick up a few more movies and shows too," said Spyridon.

Country Strong opens in Nashville and Los Angeles on December 22. The movie will be released nationwide on January 7, 2011.

For Exclusive photos visit http://MomentsByMoser.zenfolio.com/countrystrongmoviepremiere

ARTICLE: Retune Nashville Benefit Auction and Concert

2010-11-18T11:26:00.000-08:00

Saturday, October 23rd a Benefit Concert and Art Auction Event was held at Soundcheck, Nashville’s massive music gear storage and rehearsal facility which suffered massive flood damages in May. The event was a kick-off to the global online auction of more than 70 original art pieces created from flood-damaged music instruments. Light hors d'oeuvres and wine were served during the art viewing and live art auction portion of the event, where a small selection of "ReTuned" gear will be up for bidding. All other "ReTuned" items will be auctioned off online each month leading up to the anniversary of Nashville's devastating floods. A silent auction of other items donated from Nashville artists and musicians also took place.

Guests were entertained by Jamie, O'Neal, best known for her chart-topping singles “Arizona” and “When I Think About Angels,” and the wildly popular “Somebody’s Hero,” An Academy of Country Music Top Female Vocalist and a multi-nominated Grammy songwriter.

Also on hand was a strong line up and list of passionate and talented musicians and performers creating a unque eclectic musical experience. Performers included Anthony Smith, Jeremy Lister, Eddy Raven, Kentucky Thunder (Jonell Mosser, Etta Britt, Sheila Lawrence, Vickie Carrico), Sean O'Bryan Smith, and Derek St. Holmes.
House Band: Roger Eaton (Lorrie Morgan, Barbara Mandrell) on lead guitar, Dave Fowler (Jamie O’Neal Collin Raye) on bass, Jack Garvin (Charlie Daniels, Tanya Tucker) on drums, Michael Webb (John Fogerty, Gary Allan) on keys, and Scott Neubert (Hal Ketchum, Chalee Tennison) on acoustic guitar

ReTune Nashville is a 100% volunteer effort, and all proceeds from ticket sales, auction items and merchandise will directly benefit Nashville's musicians through MusiCares Nashville Flood Relief and the Nashville Musician's Association Flood Relief Fund.

About ReTune Nashville:
Founded as a non-profit organization in May 2010 by Nashville photographer Sheri ONeal, ReTune Nashville exists with a mission to provide relief to uninsured musicians in the industry through the sale of artwork created from flood damaged musical gear. The proceeds from the sale of artwork are donated to MusiCares Nashville Flood Relief and the Nashville Musicians Association Flood Relief Fund for distribution to uninsured musicians in the industry. Visit ReTune Nashville's Website

Exclusive photographs can be seen at: http://MomentsByMoser.zenfolio.com/retunenashville

Special THANK YOU to Karen Hampton for the photos for Moments By Moser

ARTICLE: TOOTSIES 50th Anniversary

2010-11-18T10:38:00.000-08:00

After 50 years of fostering and honing the chops of singers and songwriters in Nashville, Tootsies finally got the celebration it deserves. Revered as a breeding ground for Nashville’s music machine, the venerable honky tonk on Lower Broadway simply teems with character and legend. And all of those who gathered to celebrate at the Ryman had a story.

Terri Clark played her first gig at Tootsies during Lower Broad’s rougher days. She used to tie a shoestring to her guitar case, so no one would snatch it on her way to a show. One of the most memorable experiences was when a man had a heart attack and dropped dead in the middle of her set.

Country music in Tootsies is just that real. Randy Houser stumbled through Tootsies’ purple doors during his first week in town. He idled up to the bar next to a burly man in a cowboy hat. The man asked where he was from and offered to buy him a beer. Ten years later, Toby Keith signed Houser to his record label. Talk about full circle.

One time, Mark Chesnutt was playing the Opry at the Ryman and—just like Hank Williams and many others before him—Chesnutt popped into Tootsies in between sets for a few cold ones. The next day, news had spread—even in the media—that Chesnutt got in a fight in the alley out back. The story had absolutely no merit. “I thought that was the funniest thing,” Chesnutt said. “Look at me, man. I can’t whoop nobody.”

Others were a little blunter about their Tootsies habits. “I think my liver died at Tootsies,” former Trick Pony member Ira Dean said. “I remember going in there, but I don’t remember leaving.”

The Grascals’ Terry Eldredge had similar experiences. “I never get thrown out, but I got rolled out a few times,” Eldredge said.

Joking aside, all the artists that gathered at the Ryman were there to pay their respects through song and entertainment. The stage was set up “Opry-Style” with a purple front-door backdrop and artists performed one-by-one in tribute to the place they got their starts. For the most part, classic country was undoubtedly present as several performers harkened images of some of Tootsies’ early patrons. “King of the Road” was sung by Dean Miller (Roger’s son), while Joanna Smith—Columbia Nashville’s latest signing—delivered a powerful performance of “Stand By Your Man.” Fittingly enough, Smith was discovered at Tootsies after playing there regularly for four years. “You have people from all walks of life in Tootsies—not to mention all four corners of the world,” Smith said. “You learn how to be a universal entertainer and I think that is something that’s going to be completely invaluable to me for the rest of my career.”

Clark stuck with the classic theme as she performed solo acoustic versions of “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” “Walkin’ After Midnight,” and even “Folsom Prison Blues.” She, too, gained valuable support from Tootsies.
“I remember people coming up to me and telling me I could make it,” Clark said. “Those people kept me going.” Well, if she wasn’t sure if she made it, all doubt was removed when she got the privilege of introducing songwriting legend Kris Kristofferson. Kristofferson—who once allegedly resided with Willie Nelson in the back of Tootsies—eased into a can’t-miss medley of “Me and Bobby McGee,” “Help Me Make It Through The Night,” and “Sunday Morning Comin’ Down.” Perhaps the seed to one of those classics was planted while contemplating life on a dusty mattress within the walls of the Orchid Lounge.

Other seasoned entertainers like Mel Tillis and Little Jimmy Dickens fondly remembered Hattie Louise “Tootsie” Bess—the lady who ran the bar back when it was known as Mom’s. “None of us in the history of country music could forget the nice times and joyful times at Tootsies,” Dickens said. Tootsies also helped shape the careers of current critic darlings. Towards the end of the show, Houser and buddy Jamey Johnson teamed up for Hank Jr.’s “Dinosaur.” Johnson—who wasn’t featured on the bill—closed out with his hit “In Color.”

The tradition lives on. The breadth of performers with their similar and intertwining stories, illustrates Tootsies’ cultural impact on Music City. “(Tootsies) definitely has a page in country music history,” current Tootsies performer John Stone said. “Just to know that I have a small paragraph on that page means a lot.” Every success story has to have a beginning. And for the select few that have made it in Nashville over the last 50 years, that starting point has been Tootsies. “This celebration has been long past due,” Dickens said.

(REPRINTED: Pierce Greenberg The9513.com)

Exclusive photos can be viewed at http://MomentsByMoser.zenfolio.com/tootsies50thanniversary

ARTICLE: The Woods at Fontanel with Montgomery Gentry, Gretchen Wilson and John Rich

2010-11-17T18:31:00.000-08:00

A much-needed but ill-timed torrential downpour didn't dampen the spirits of several thousand rain-soaked country music fans during the first major concert at Nashville's new The Woods at Fontanel amphitheatre last night. Montgomery Gentry, Gretchen Wilson and special guest John Rich presented by Logan's Roadhouse drew a packed house on a beautiful evening at the scenic venue. . . and then the clouds opened up.

Newcomer trio The Farm opened the show at 7:00 p.m. Rain started to fall when John Rich took the stage, but no one seemed to mind. Gretchen Wilson could have changed her opening smash number "Here For The Party" to "Here For The Rain", as the rains fell even heavier through her set. But the people stayed. When Montgomery Gentry took the stage, they gave the water-logged fans a 70-minute show they won't soon forget.

Still soaked from her own set, Gretchen donned a rain coat and headed out into the audience to enjoy her buddies, Eddie and Troy, on stage. In order to get a better vantage point, she climbed on the shoulders of her manager, Marc Oswald. They worked their way to the front of the crowd, where Gretchen climbed on stage and helped MG finish one of their last songs.

"By all accounts this was beyond successful for our first major concert event at The Woods," said Oswald, who also co-owns The Fontanel. "Not only did we again see how wild, crazy and dedicated the country music fans are in Nashville, but it gave us the opportunity to see how this beautiful new facility and our staff held up under very adverse conditions." A spokesman for Fontanel stated.

The Woods at Fontanel is a new outdoor venue on the grounds at Fontanel, 4225 White’s Creek Pike in White’s Creek. Unlike anywhere else in Nashville, the Woods at Fontanel is an outdoor music venue with a capacity for 2500 guests. Featuring state-of-the-art sound and a cozy wooded setting, the natural amphitheatre space of the White's Creek valley will be the must-see (and must-hear!) venue of the South.

Also included was a fall festival featuring local arts and crafts, a large display of vintage tractors for everone to view, eat and enjoy.

Additional photographs can be viewed at http://MomentsByMoser.zenfolio.com/thewoodsatfontanel

SPECIAL THANK YOU to KAREN HAMPTON for taking photographs for Moments By Moser / Digital Rodeo.

ARTICLE: Burns & Poe Release Self Titled Debut Album

2010-11-17T17:36:00.000-08:00

L to R: Kat Atwood (Music City Media), John Mullins (Director Writer/Publisher Relations, SESAC), Michelle Poe, Keith Burns, Shannan Tipton Hatch (Director Writer/Publisher Relations, SESAC), Steve Pope (Blue Steel Records)

The wait is over for Burns & Poe music! Burns & Poe officially introduced the new music from their upcoming self-titled CD at the SESAC offices on Music Row during an evening during a celebration on November 16th with friends, family and industry executives in the SESAC lobby.

Produced by Mark Oliverius, the 2-disc project contains 13 original songs penned by Keith Burns and Michelle Poe. A special autographed LP/CD package is exclusively available via the Burns & Poe web site, with the official release set to hit retailers in late February 2011.

Having tantalized country radio and listeners with two new singles “Don’t Get No Better Than That” and “How Long Is Long Enough?” (currently at radio),Blue Steel Records’ sexy duo, Burns & Poe, are poised to unveil a double disc set this fall. Their self-titled debut release,jam-packed with original songs and a surprise ending is now available at primary retail and digital outlets.

The first two radio releases are just a taste of the Burns & Poe experience. “How Long Is Long Enough?” captures the delicate pain of a broken heart with a graceful instrumental lilt while “Don’t Get No Better Than That” is a rollicking ‘living life to the fullest’ anthem. The CD collection* is pure Burns & Poe with equal parts tongue and cheek good-time, up-tempos and honest, moving ballads. Mark Oliverius, longtime friend and co-writer of the duo, signed on to produce and brings a distinctive polish to all fourteen tracks.

“Keith and I just love each and every one of the songs and couldn’t wait to get the CD to our fans,” Michelle reveals. “They have been so supportive; this is truly a ‘thank-you’ to them.”

“We’ve been chompin’ at the bit, but we think we’ve picked our best songs to represent who we are as songwriters and artists and are so happy with the end result.“

Keith added. “Michelle and I worked hard to create a project that is ‘duoly’ country!” “I think he means ‘duly’,” Michelle chimes.

The unparalleled combination of superb writing with their patented “gravel and grace” harmony received accolades from Country Weekly. The magazine notes the duo exemplifies the magic male-female duos of yesteryear, pairs like GeorgeJones and Tammy Wynette or Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers or Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn. Keith Burns and Michelle Poe are a duo for the country masses. Joining forces after Poe (former Dreamworks recording artist) auditioned for the lead of Trick Pony, of which Burns was a founding member, the pair fused their talents and flare to create an electrifying sound and chemistry-charged show.

Burns & Poe have been on the road performing at shows from coast to coast. They signed with Blue Steel Records late last year. Since Keith Burns and Michelle Poe came together in 2006, they’ve secured a variety of sponsors including Taylor Guitars, Peavey Guitars, Dan Post Boots, Silpada Designs and Crow’s Nest Trading Company. In addition to the release of their album originals, country music listeners will enjoy a hidden gem—the live medley (a bonus track)—that is a Burns & Poe tell-all.

For more information about Burns & Poe, including tour dates and album updates, please visit:

http://www.burnsandpoe.com, http://www.facebook.com/burnsandpoe, http://www.myspace.com/burnsandpoe or http://www.twitter.com/burnsandpoe.

Exclusive photos of the CD Release party can be viewed at: http://MomentsByMoser.zenfolio.com/burnsandpoesesac

ARTICLE: Trace Adkins at the Hard Rock for Musicians On Call

2010-11-17T17:17:00.000-08:00

In 1999, the Kristen Ann Carr Fund sponsored a concert at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center with the help of Michael Solomon and Vivek Tiwary. Nurses carefully transported patients to the hospital’s recreation area, arranging seats and wheelchairs around a temporary stage. IV poles were present throughout the audience, their bags forming a mezzanine audience overhead.

Finally, Kenli Mattus began to perform and something wonderful happened. Feet began to tap and heads nodded to the beat. Smiles formed on patients’ faces and some closed their eyes in revelry. His music was like a melodious breeze moving throughout the room; joyful notes drifted through the air before settling comfortably on the souls of his audience.

It was just what the patients needed, one of the nurses said, and such a shame that some were unable to attend because they were in treatment or too sick to leave their rooms. It was clear that some of the patients who needed music most were unable to go to the concert.

So Mattus brought the concert to them.

He went room to room, along with Michael and Vivek, and played at the bedsides of those who had missed the concert. What happened in the rec room happened on an even deeper and more intimate level. Michael and Vivek knew they had to form an organization that could bring the same inspiration to the bedsides of patients in hospitals everywhere.

And so Musicians On Call was born, right on cue.

Multiplatinum, award-winning country music star Trace Adkins performed at Hard Rock Cafe Nashville on October 25, 2010 as part of Musicians On Call's Month of Music initiative; a series of events in New York, Nashville, and Miami during the month of October

Atlantic Records band, The Invite kicked off the night which included a high energy “clap along”. The show was a very special and intimate evening for Trace Adkins fans and helped raise over $10,000 for MOC's programs in Nashville.

Additional photos can be viewed at http://MomentsByMoser.zenfolio.com/traceadkinsmusicansoncall

ARTICLE: MUSIC CITY WALK OF FAME ANNOUNCES INDUCTEES

2010-11-13T18:36:00.000-08:00

Eddy Arnold, Little Jimmy Dickens, Bobby Hebb, Kris Kristofferson, Rascal Flatts and Mel Tillis
Earn Stars On Nashville's Music Mile

Additional photos can be seen at : http://MomentsByMoser.zenfolio.com/2010walkoffame

Nashville, Tenn. - Music City, Inc. new inductees to the Music City Walk of Fame, presented by founding sponsor Gibson Guitar: Eddy Arnold, Little Jimmy Dickens, Bobby Hebb, Kris Kristofferson, Rascal Flatts and Mel Tillis. The honorees were recognized officially with the unveiling of commemorative sidewalk markers on Sunday, Nov. 7th in the Walk of Fame Park in downtown Nashville.
The Music City Walk of Fame is an official project of Music City, Inc., the charitable foundation of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau (NCVB), and is produced with the support of presenting sponsor Gibson Guitar and sponsors GAC, the City of Nashville and Metro Parks.

"We are pleased to honor this amazing class of inductees," said Butch Spyridon, president of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau. "Each honoree represents the immense talent, creativity and diversity that have made Nashville, Music City."

Created in the fall of 2006, the Music City Walk of Fame, on Nashville's Music Mile, is a landmark tribute to those from all genres of music who have made significant contributions to preserving the musical heritage of Nashville and have contributed to the world through song or other industry collaboration. With the induction of this new class of honorees, there will be 48 total stars along the Walk of Fame.

Permanent sidewalk medallions made of stainless steel and terrazzo, with each honoree's name displayed in a star-and-guitar design, will be installed in the sidewalk along the Music Mile. The plaques for this class of inductees will be inlaid in Hall of Fame Park on Demonbreun, between 4th and 5th Avenues South.

Nominations were open to the public and accepted in the categories of Artist, Musician, Songwriter, and Producer/Music Industry Executive. Application forms were reviewed by the Music City Walk of Fame anonymous selection committee.

"Gibson Guitar is honored to continue the tradition of the Music City Walk of Fame which celebrates the vast wealth of talent and creativity that originates in Nashville," said Henry Juszkiewicz, Chairman and CEO of Gibson Guitar. "This class of inductees is no exception. From our own signature artist Kris Kristofferson to Rascal Flatts along with Little Jimmy Dickens, Bobby Hebb, Eddy Arnold and Mel Tillis, this exceptional group of artists keep Nashville's place in music history strong."

The November inductees for the Music City Walk of Fame:

Eddy Arnold:
Eddy Arnold, one of the greatest singers in both country and pop genres, was born May 15, 1918 in Chester County, Tennessee. On his eleventh birthday, his father died; later that year the farm the family lived on was auctioned off and the family became sharecroppers on the farm they once owned. Arnold went to school through the ninth grade, then landed a job with a funeral home while he sang on the local radio station. Soon, he moved to Memphis, then St. Louis where he appeared on radio for several years before landing a job with Pee Wee King and the Golden West Cowboys.

During World War II Arnold toured all over the United States with the Camel Caravan, appearing at Armed Forces bases. After the tour, he embarked on a solo career with the Grand Ole Opry, with the moniker, "The Tennessee Plowboy" and was signed to host the show sponsored by Purina on the NBC network. In December, 1944, Arnold, already a star on the Grand Ole Opry, made his first recordings for Victor Records at the WSM Studios - the first recording session by a major label in Nashville.

In 1945, he joined forces with Colonel Tom Parker, who was his manager for the next eight years. During that time, Arnold had a string of #1 hits, and in 1947-1948, he had the #1 song on the country charts for 60 consecutive weeks. In fact, in 1948 he outsold the entire pop division of RCA Victor which helped persuade RCA Victor as well as other notable record companies to eventually invest in building and operating recording facilities in Nashville.

Despite his roots as a sharecropper, Arnold never employed the traditional "nasal" twang long associated with country artist of his time. His musical influences included Bing Crosby and Gene Autry, therefore Arnold's smooth baritone lent itself more to crooning which helped him cross over into the pop genre and gain favor with non-country audiences. That smooth style has never been paralleled in country music ever since.

During the 1950s Eddy Arnold became the first country artist to host a network prime time television show when he became the summer replacement for "The Perry Como Show." He also hosted a national network radio show, "The Checkerboard Jamboree" for CBS and starred in two movies for Columbia Pictures, "Feudin' Rhythm" and "Hoedown". Arnold became a major concert draw outside of the south during the late 1940s, and in 1952 "The Eddy Arnold Show" aired as a summer replacement show for Dinah Shore's variety show on CBS. His theme song was "Cattle Call," and he recorded it four different times. The 1955 version with the Hugo Winterhalter Orchestra was a number one record. Also, in 1955 he recorded the song "You Don't Know Me", a song he co-wrote with legendary songwriter, Cindy Walker. That song was made a standard by Ray Charles and has been covered by artists as diverse as Elvis Presley and Bob Dylan. Most recently it was recorded by Michael Bublé and Willie Nelson.

Despite a career downturn in the late 1950s and early 1960s, Eddy reemerged as a leading figure in the famed "Nashville Sound" movement which brought a more refined touch to country music and expanded its audience therefore giving it more mainstream appeal. In 1965, he scored his biggest hit of all, "Make The World Go Away," a record that is now in the Grammy Hall of Fame. In 1966 he was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame, and in 1967 he became the first person to win the Entertainer of the Year honor from the Country Music Association.

Eddy Arnold sold over 85 million records and is the only country artist to have charted records in seven different decades, one of which was a duet version of "Cattle Call" with LeAnn Rimes from her "Blue" album that was released by Curb Records in 1996. In 2000, he received the National Medal of the Arts from President Bill Clinton and was awarded a "Lifetime Achievement Grammy" in 2005. Eddy Arnold died on May 8th, 2008, thus silencing an unmistakable voice that inspired generations of singers and millions of fans alike. Following his death in May 2008, RCA Records released the single "To Life", a song from the album "After All These Years" and it debuted at No. 49 on the Hot Country Songs charts, which was his first entry into that particular chart in 25 years. Because of this feat, he also became the oldest artist to chart Billboard and it also set the record for the longest span between an artist's first chart single and the last: 62 years and 11 months ("Each Minute Seems Like a Million Years" debuted on June 30, 1945), and extended Arnold's career chart history to seven decades.

Little Jimmy Dickens
Born in Bolt, West Virginia, Dickens began his musical career in the late 1930s, performing on a local radio station while attending West Virginia University. He soon quit school to pursue a full-time music career, and traveled the country performing on various local radio stations under the name "Jimmy the Kid."

In 1948, Dickens was heard performing on a radio station in Saginaw, Michigan by Roy Acuff, who introduced him to Art Satherly at Columbia Records and officials from the Grand Ole Opry. Dickens signed with Columbia in September and joined the Opry in August. Around this time he began using the nickname, Little Jimmy Dickens, inspired by his short stature. Dickens recorded many novelty songs for Columbia, including "Country Boy," "A-Sleeping at the Foot of the Bed" and "I'm Little But I'm Loud." His song "Take an Old Cold Tater (And Wait)" inspired Hank Williams to nickname him "Tater". Later, telling Jimmy he needed a hit, Williams penned "Hey Good Lookin'" specifically for Dickens in only 20 minutes while on a Grand Ole Opry tour bus. A week later Williams cut the song himself, jokingly telling him, "That song's too good for you!"

In 1950, Dickens formed the Country Boys with musicians Jabbo Arrington, Grady Martin, Bob Moore and Thumbs Carllile. It was during this time that he discovered future Hall of Famer Marty Robbins at a television station while on tour with the Grand Ole Opry road show. In 1957, Dickens left the Grand Ole Opry to tour with the Philip Morris Country Music Show.

In 1962, Dickens released "The Violet and the Rose," his first top 10 single in 12 years. Two years later he became the first country artist to circle the globe while on tour. He also made numerous TV appearances including The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. In 1965, he released his biggest hit, "May the Bird of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose," reaching number one on the country chart and number 15 on the pop chart.

In the late 1960s, he left Columbia for Decca Records, before moving again to United Artists in 1971. That same year he married his wife, Mona. He returned to the Grand Ole Opry in 1975, and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame a few years later.

He joined producers Randall Franks and Alan Autry for the In the Heat of the Night cast CD "Christmas Time's A Comin'" performing "Jingle Bells" with the cast on the CD released on Sonlite and MGM/UA for one of the most popular Christmas releases of 1991 and 1992 with Southern retailers.

Recently, Dickens has made appearances in a number of music videos by fellow country musician and West Virginia native Brad Paisley. He has also been featured on several of Paisley's albums in bonus comedy tracks along with other Opry mainstays such as George Jones and Bill Anderson. They are collectively referred to as the Kung-Pao Buckaroos.

With the passing of Hank Locklin in March 2009, Dickens is now the oldest living member of the Grand Ole Opry at the age of 89. He still makes regular appearances as a host at the Opry.

Bobby Hebb
Bobby Hebb made his stage debut on his third birthday, when tap dancer Hal Hebb introduced his little brother to show business at The Bijou Theater. This was an appearance on The Jerry Jackson Revue of 1942. Harold Hebb was nine years of age at the time and the young brothers worked quite a few nightclubs before Bobby entered first grade.

Nashville establishments like The Hollywood Palm, Eva Thompson Jones Dance Studio, The Paradise Club, and the basement bar in Prentice Alley, as well as the aforementioned Bijou Theater, found Bobby and Hal dancing and singing. Hebb's father, William, played trombone and guitar, his mother, Ovalla, played piano and guitar, while his grandfather was a chef/cook on the Dixie Flyer, an express train on the L&N -- Louisville & Nashville railroad.

Bobby, with so much musical influence and inspiration, would go on to pen hundreds upon hundreds of tunes, among them, BMI's number 25 most played song on their website in 2000, the classic "Sunny." Georgie Fame and Cher, charted with the title in England, but it was Hebb's original which reached the highest on charts in Europe and America. Covers by Frank Sinatra with Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Stevie Wonder, Frankie Valli, Nancy Wilson, the Four Tops, Wilson Pickett, Dusty Springfield, and so many others, insured the song would reach audiences outside of those who heard and continue to hear it on Top 40 and "oldies" stations. The song reached beyond Top 40, climbing the country and R&B charts as well. Kal Rudman calls this a rare industry "hat trick" in the liner notes on the 1966 Phillips' album, but what no one could predict is how the song would find versions by Boney M. and Yambu bringing it to dance clubs, while jazz musicians explored the nuances of this amazing composition in their world.

Bobby Hebb's influence reaches far beyond "Sunny." When he joined Roy Acuff's Smokey Mountain Boys around 1952, he was one of the first African American artists to perform on The Grand Ole Opry.

Around 1958 Bobby Hebb tracked "Night Train to Memphis," a song written by Owen Bradley for Roy Acuff's Smokey Mountain Boys. The tune was re-released in 1998 on a Warner Bros. box set, From Where I Stand, which also included "A Satisfied Mind" from the 1966 Sunny album.

Hebb was represented by Buster Newman and his partner, Lloyd Greenfield, who managed Tom Jones and Engelbert Humperdinck. Bobby Hebb headlined a 1966 tour with the Beatles. After this, Hebb met comedian/composer Sandy Baron and the two got busy writing a Broadway show that never made it to Broadway. However, two of the songs -- "A Natural Man" and a tune they were writing about Marvin Gaye, "His Song Shall Be Sung" -- were picked up by Lou Rawls and released on MGM.

After a recording gap of thirty five years, Hebb recorded That's All I Wanna Know, his first commercial release since Love Games for Epic Records in 1970. It was released in Europe in late 2005 by Tuition, a pop indie label. New versions of "Sunny" were also issued. In October 2008, Hebb toured and played in Osaka and Tokyo, Japan.

Hebb continued to live in his hometown of Nashville until his death in August.

Kris Kristofferson
A member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, Kris Kristofferson helped rejuvenate Nashville's creative community in the late 1960s and early 1970s with the classics "Help Me Make It Through the Night," "Me and Bobby McGee," "For the Good Times" and "Lovin' Her Was Easier." Hundreds of recording artists have performed his songs. As a concert performer, Kristofferson toured for many years, releasing numerous albums with his long-standing backup band, the Borderlords.

Kristofferson began his music career in the mid-60s when he ended scholarly pursuits in favor of songwriting. The son of an Air Force general, he was a Rhodes scholar, a helicopter pilot and might have been an English Lit professor at West Point, but he gave it all up for a shot at selling some of his songs. Encouraged by a meeting with Johnny Cash, he moved to Nashville in 1965. He pitched songs while working as a night janitor at Columbia studios, emptying ashtrays and pushing a broom.

His turning point came in 1969. Nashville was still the bastion of conservative country music, but a new generation of renegade writers and performers were bucking the establishment. Cash gave him his break by recording "Sunday Morning Coming Down," which won the Country Music Association's song of the year trophy in 1970. Roger Miller sang "Me and Bobby McGee," and Ray Price recorded "For the Good Times," which won song of the year at the Academy of Country Music Awards in 1970.

He made his recording debut at the same time Janis Joplin's version of "Me and Bobby McGee" went to No. 1. Sammi Smith reached the national Top 10 with "Help Me Make It Through the Night," which won the CMA's single of the year and a Grammy for best country song in 1971. Five subsequent albums, including The Silver-Tongued Devil and I and Jesus Was a Capricorn (which included the hit "Why Me"), went gold. His recordings with then-wife Rita Coolidge won the pair two Grammy awards. In 1973, "From the Bottle to the Bottom" was named best country vocal performance by a duo or group, and "Love Please" garnered the same award in 1975.

He started a movie career in 1971 when he co-starred with Gene Hackman and Harry Dean Stanton in Cisco Pike. He became an instant box-office draw, starring opposite such stars as Jane Fonda, Ellen Burstyn and Burt Reynolds. He also starred with Barbra Streisand in the classic film A Star Is Born in 1976. While making approximately two films a year, he continued to tour and record.

In the mid-80s, he joined Cash, Nelson and Waylon Jennings to form the Highwaymen. The supergroup's single, "Highwayman," was named the ACM's single of the year for 1985. His 1990 solo album, Third World Warrior, demonstrated his concern for human freedoms. In 1999, he re-recorded some of his best-known tunes for The Austin Sessions, released on Atlantic Records. He teamed with Nelson, Jennings and Texas songwriter Billy Joe Shaver for Honky Tonk Heroes in 2000.

In the last decade, Kristofferson, who is signed with New West Records, has released two studio albums titled This Old Road and Closer To The Bone. This Old Road -- Kristofferson's first recording in almost a dozen years -- was hailed by critics as "one of the finest albums of his storied career" (Rolling Stone), "a stripped-down stunner" (Esquire), and "a return to his best work" (Q). Kristofferson also continues a vigorous schedule of national and international solo appearances, and he is currently filming a movie called A Dolphin Tale. The Americana Music Association presented him its 2003 Spirit of Americana Free Speech Award. In 2004, Kristofferson entered the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Rascal Flatts
In just 10 years, Rascal Flatts has become one of the most honored acts in country music history, reaching heights and achieving milestones reserved for the genre's elite. They have set more venue attendance records than any country act en route to ticket sales of six million and counting. They have sold 20 million albums and earned 11 #1 singles. All six of their albums are platinum or multi-platinum and every one is among Billboard's Top 100 Albums of the Decade. They have won more than three dozen awards from the ACM, CMA, AMA and People's Choice, among others, and they have received that ultimate honor for those who have impacted the culture -- a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Behind those statistics is an accomplishment more basic than numbers, more important than any trophy -- for the past decade, the music of Rascal Flatts has been the soundtrack to countless lives. Songs like "These Days," "Mayberry," "What Hurts The Most," "My Wish," "Stand," "Here," "Here Comes Goodbye" and "Summer Nights" have soothed and uplifted, fired up, mellowed out and otherwise impacted millions.

Their place in country music history may be assured, but Gary, Jay and Joe Don retain a newcomer's passion about capturing magic with each new project. Now, with the release of their latest, Nothing Like This, they have done it once again, taking their career and their legacy another long step forward. The album is a microcosm of all the things the band does well which is to say it touches on many of the best aspects of 21st-century country music. It is first and foremost uplifting, with songs like "Why Wait" and "Play" kicking off the proceedings with the call to enjoy life no matter what our circumstances. It features both the throwback groove of "They Try" and the fresh sparkle of "All Night To Get There." "Summer Young" is an uptempo celebration of the season of warmth and romance and "I Won't Let Go" is "You've Got A Friend" for the new millennium, a song steeped in the strength of love and friendship in times of trouble. The title cut finds a way to bring freshness to the subject of love and sees Gary bringing a disarming desperation to his vocal. Evident throughout is the group's ability to recognize the best in Nashville songwriting.

The fact that they were able to do so reflects the magic they have always found in their approach to music and the respect with which they view their mission and each other. Their sound took root in the late 1990s, when Jay and Joe Don were band mates working with Chely Wright and Jay and Gary were playing a separate gig in downtown Nashville. When their guitar player was unable to make it one night, Jay asked Joe Don to sit in. The three honed their sound with club work, cut some demos and by year's end had been signed to Lyric Street Records, where they flourished and took off on that magical decade of hits and sold-out shows.

Along the way, their "Bless The Broken Road" was Grammy nominated for Country Song of the Year and Vocal Performance, they became 2006's top-selling physical and digital artist in all genres, scored four #1 country albums and three #1's overall, and hit the Top 10 Billboard pop singles chart twice, among many other milestones. When Lyric Street closed its doors, they chose Big Machine as their new label home.

Committed to giving back, they are known for their charitable work, which includes raising three million dollars for the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt in Nashville.

Never content to rest on their laurels, they are eagerly looking forward.

Mel Tillis
Country music legend, Mel Tillis learned to play the guitar as a child, and in high school studied both the violin and the drums. Following high school, he entered the military and was stationed in Okinawa, Japan as a baker in the United States Air Force. During his time in the military, Tillis formed a band called The Westerners which played local clubs.

After leaving the military, Tillis moved to Nashville in 1956 to launch his musical career. In 1957, Webb Pierce took one of Tillis' songs titled "I'm Tired" to number three on the charts. Tillis cut his first single that same year, a cover of "It Takes a Worried Man to Sing a Worried Song." His first Top 40 hit came the following year with "The Violet and a Rose."

Tillis continued to chart singles like 1959's "Finally" and a pair of duets with Bill Phillips, "Sawmill" and "Georgia Town Blues," while also supplying Webb Pierce with hit after hit, including the 1959 smashes "I Ain't Never" and "No Love Have I" along with 1962's "Crazy Wild Desire" and 1963's "Sawmill." Bobby Bare, Ray Price, Stonewall Jackson, and Little Jimmy Dickens also covered Tillis' songs.

In 1965, Tillis recorded his first Top 15 hit, "Wine." A string of successes followed, including 1966's "Stateside," "Life Turned Her That Way," and his first Top Ten, 1968's "Who's Julie." At the same time, his stature as a songwriter continued to grow thanks to hit covers of his "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town" by both Johnny Darrell and Kenny Rogers & the First Edition and "Mental Revenge" Waylon Jennings. After two 1969 Top Ten hits, "These Lonely Hands of Mine" and "She'll Be Hanging Around Somewhere," Tillis scored back-to-back Top Five hits in 1970 with "Heart Over Mind" and "Heaven Everyday." In 1971, he began a successful string of duets with Sherry Bryce which included "Take My Hand" and "Living and Learning."

"I Ain't Never" became his first chart-topper in 1972. What followed was a series of Top Five smashes like "Neon Rose," "Sawmill," "Midnight, Me and the Blues," "Stomp Them Grapes," and "Memory Maker." Between 1976 and 1980, he scored five more number ones -- "Good Woman Blues," "Heart Healer," "I Believe in You," "Coca Cola Cowboy," and "Southern Rains."

In all, Mel Tillis has written well over 1,000 songs, with approximately 600 recorded by major artists. He has recorded more than 60 albums, including 36 Top Ten singles, with nine of them going to #1.

Mel has appeared in numerous feature films including "Every Which Way But Loose" with Clint Eastwood, "W.W. & The Dixie Dancekings" with Burt Reynolds and Jerry Reed, "Cannonball Run I and II," "Smokey and the Bandit II" with Burt Reynolds, and the lead role with Roy Clark in "Uphill All The Way." His most recent role was that of a plumber in Toby Keith's 2008 movie "Beer For My Horses."

In 1976, Tillis was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters International Hall of Fame, and that same year, he was named Country Music Association's (CMA) Entertainer of the Year. Also, for six years in the 70's, Mel Tillis won Comedian of the Year.

Mel Tillis became a member of the Grand Ole Opry in June 2007, and on October 28, 2007, he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame

Mel Tillis has been in the music/entertainment business now for more than 50 years. He and his band, the Statesiders, have worked concerts all around the world, and continue to do so.

ARTICLE: SESAC 2010 Nashville Music Awards

2010-11-12T12:17:00.000-08:00

SESAC, the nation’s fastest growing performing rights organization, awarded Hillary Scott with top honors at the “SESAC Nashville Music Awards” when she was named Songwriter of the Year at the event which was held November 8, at SESAC’s Music Row offices. Scott, a member of platinum-selling group Lady Antebellum, also took home the trophy for Song Of The Year for the smash, “Need You Now” which has dominated the charts and ruled the country and pop airwaves.

Publisher of the Year honors went to EMI Foray Music.

Scott was feted for her astonishing array of hits by Lady Antebellum over the last year including the aforementioned “Need You Now,” “Our Kind Of Love” and “Run To You.” In just a few short years, Scott and Lady A have become one of music’s most successful and celebrated acts with multiple No. 1 smashes and a multitude of CMA, ACM, CMT and Grammy awards. Scott and her fellow Lady Antebellum members Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood were in attendance and performed a sterling version of their single release, “Need You Now,” the award-winning song.

Per tradition, SESAC recognized the major impact and growing relevance of the Americana format during the evening's festivities, handing out awards to several top artists and songwriters in the genre. SESAC, the only performing rights organization that honors the Americana genre at their songwriting events, honored the work from such luminaries as Bob Dylan, Jim Lauderdale, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Allison Moorer and The Avett Brothers among many others.

Revered singer/songwriter/producer Buddy Miller, with help from Byron House, mesmerizes the crowd with his version of “King Of Broken Hearts” during the Jim Lauderdale “Inspiration Award’ presentation

Renowned singer/songwriter Jim Lauderdale was presented with SESAC’s “Inspiration Award” recognizing his timeless and genre-defying music which has resulted in collaborations with a diverse group of artists including Elvis Costello, Ralph Stanley and Willie Nelson among many others. The list of artists who have cut Lauderdale’s songs include a Who’s Who of the best in music such as George Strait, Patty Loveless, George Jones, Dixie Chicks and Solomon Burke. Both Costello and Stanley sent along video congratulations for Lauderdale who was on hand to accept the prestigious award. Revered artist/songwriter/producer Buddy Miller paid tribute to his friend and musical colleague with a moving version of Lauderdale’s “The King Of Broken Hearts”, providing for one of the many highlights of the evening.

In addition to her songwriting honors, SESAC Vice President, Tim Fink, awarded Songwriter of the Year, Hillary Scott, with a one-of-a-kind, handcrafted J-145 acoustic guitar provided by Henry Juscowitz from Gibson Guitar.

The elegant, black-tie soiree honored the writers and publishers behind the year’s biggest hits with more than 50 awards being presented to the elite group of creative talent drawing over 400 songwriters, publishers and industry professionals. The star-studded attendees included Lady Antebellum, Jim Lauderdale, Blaine Larsen, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Victoria Shaw and Gary Burr among many others.

Founded in 1930, making it the second oldest performing rights organization in the US, SESAC's repertory has diversified to include today's most popular music, including R&B, Hip-Hop, Dance, Classic Rock, Country hits, the best of Latin music, Contemporary Christian, Jazz, and TV and Film music from Hollywood's hottest composers. SESAC prides itself on developing individual relationships with both songwriters and publishers. SESAC's corporate headquarters in Nashville houses all of the company's divisions, from creative to licensing to administration. The company also has offices in New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Miami and London. For more information, please visit www.sesac.com.

A COMPLETE LIST OF SESAC AWARD RECIPIENTS FOLLOWS:

Songwriter of the Year:

Hillary Scott

Song of the Year:

“Need You Now”

Recorded by Lady Antebellum

Written by: Hillary Scott

Publisher: Hillary Dawn Songs / EMI Foray Music

SESAC Publisher of the Year:

EMI Foray Music

COUNTRY PERFORMANCE ACTIVITY AWARDS:

"Need You Now"

Written by Hillary Scott

Recorded by Lady Antebellum

Published by Hillary Dawn Songs / EMI Foray Music

"American Honey"

Written by Cary Barlowe

Recorded by Lady Antebellum

Published by Bummerman Music / Castle Bound Music

"’Til Summer Comes Around”

Written by Monty Powell

Recorded by Keith Urban

Published by Eden Valley Music / Universal Tunes

"I Gotta Get To You"

Written by Blaine Larsen & Jim Lauderdale

Recorded by George Strait

Published by Blaine Larsen Music / Wudang Mountain Songs / Slay The Giant Music

"Fearless"

Recorded by Taylor Swift

Published by Sony/ATV Timber Publishing

"Our Kind Of Love"

Written by Hillary Scott

Recorded by Lady Antebellum

Published by Hillary Dawn Songs / EMI Foray Music

"Twang"

Written by Jim Lauderdale

Recorded by George Strait

Published by Wudang Mountain Songs

"Beer On The Table "

Written by Ken Johnson

Recorded by Josh Thompson

Published by Pacific Wind Music / Sho Bud Music

"Today"

Written by Brice Long

Recorded by Gary Allan

Published by Send Me The Checks Music / EMI Foray Music

"Turning Home"

Recorded by David Nail

Published by Gravitron Music

"Outside My Window"

Written by Gary Burr & Victoria Shaw

Recorded by Sarah Buxton

Published by Connboy Music / AvaRu Music / Multisongs

"You Belong With Me"

Recorded by Taylor Swift

Published by Potting Shed Music / Barbara Orbison World Publishing

“I Run To You”

Written by Hillary Scott

Recorded by Lady Antebellum

Published by Shaw Enuff Songs

“Kiss A Girl”

Written by Monty Powell

Recorded by Keith Urban

Published by Eden Valley Music / Universal Tunes

“Sweet Thing”

Written by Monty Powell

Recorded by Keith Urban

Published by Eden Valley Music / Universal Tunes

“One In Every Crowd”

Written by Kim Tribble

Recorded by Montgomery Gentry

Published by Tunes of RPM / Songs Of Category 5

“White Horse”

Recorded by Taylor Swift

Published by Sony/ATV Timber Publishing

AMERICANA PERFORMANCE ACTIVITY AWARDS:

Beth Nielsen Chapman

For contribution to the album

A Crooked Road

Recorded by Darrell Scott

Published by Songs Of Prismlight Music

Jim Lauderdale

For contribution to the album Patchwork River

Recorded by Jim Lauderdale

Published by Wudang Mountain Songs

Kevin Welch, Dustin Welch & Claudia Scott

For contribution to the album A Patch Of Blue Sky

Recorded by Kevin Welch

Published by Monkey Head Songs / Super Rooster Music / Lovely Monster Publishing

Elizabeth Cook & Jerry Salley

For contribution to the album Welder

Recorded by Elizabeth Cook

Published by Agent Love Music / Country Gentleman Music

Ray Wylie Hubbard & Hayes Carll

For contribution to the album A. Enlightenment B. Endarkenment (Hint: There Is No C)

Recorded by Ray Wylie Hubbard

Published by Snake Farm Publishing / Highway 87 Publishing

Allison Moorer

For contribution to the album Crows

Recorded by Allison Moorer

Published by Peteybug Tunes

Bob Dylan

For contribution to the album The List

Recorded by Rosanne Cash

Published by Special Rider Music

Scott Avett, Seth Avett & Bob Crawford

For contribution to the album I And Love And You

Recorded by The Avett Brothers

Published by Nemo IV Music / First Big Snow Publishing / Truth Comes True Publishing / Ramseur Family Fold Music

Bonnie Bramlett

For contribution to the album The Blue Ridge Rangers: Rides Again

Recorded by John Fogerty

Fred Eaglesmith

For contribution to the album Not That Lucky

Recorded by Two Tons Of Steel

Published by Critter City Music

Nanci Griffith

For contribution to the album James

Recorded by Red Molly

Additional photos can be seen at http://MomentsByMoser.zenfolio.com/sesac2010nashvillemusicawards

ARTICLE: Vince Gill & Friends Concert for STARS

2010-11-12T12:09:00.000-08:00

Country Music’s consummate caring artist, Vince Gill, lent his musical talents once again on Thursday, November 11 at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum as CVS/Caremark presents Vince Gill & Friends Concert for STARS (Students Taking A Right Stand) helping their important work of assisting young people throughout Middle Tennessee overcome tough social and emotional barriers to learning.

Rodger Dinwiddie, STARS executive director, said Gill, after helping celebrate STARS quarter of a century of service last year, is coming back again to host a second, star-studded evening for STARS. Event chairman, Christy Smith, added that guests from Canada and California, as well as many wonderful local supporters attended the spectacular event which included a Silent Auction featuring a David Yurman cuff bracelet donated by the nationally renown New York artisan.

Vince and his special guests help STARS continue their critical service to Middle Tennessee families from helping teens cope with peer pressure, bullying, substance abuse and violence as well as reach out to the kids with the "Kids On The Block" puppetry program.

Gill brought along the incredible musical guests Jenny Gill (daughter of Vince), Don Schlitz who wrote Kenny Rogers' "The Gambler" and "When You Say Nothing at All" recorded by Keith Whitley, and an amazing new talented guitar player named Shawn. Stacey Schlitz (Don's wife who is a performing musician and songwriter ) also joined Gill on stage.

A Silent Auction featured an impressive array of items from the Yurman cuff, artists’ autographed guitars and musician stools to Titans and Predators sports packages.

Founded in 1984, STARS specialists operate in elementary to high schools serving more than 70 schools and community sites within a ten-county area. In addition to helping students tackle tough social issues, STARS Nashville is a nationally recognized resource for training and professional consultation.

“Tough economic times hits our youth even harder as many are ill-equipped to deal with this additional stress. Partnering with Vince on an event of this caliber stands to positively impact so many lives,” Dinwiddie stressed.

Vince Gill & Friends Concert for STARS was presented by CVS/Caremark on Thursday, November 11 with a reception at 6:30 p.m. in the Conservatory of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum followed by an 8:00 p.m. concert. Exclusive patron tickets included premium concert seating and a post-concert meet and greet with Vince Gill.

More information on STARS can be found at www.starsnashville.org

Additonal photos can be viewed at http://MomentsByMoser.zenfolio.com/aneveningwithvincegillforstars

ARTICLE: AristoMedia Puts Artists Front and Center with Inaugural Center Stage Party

2010-11-12T10:02:00.000-08:00

Additional photos of the event can be viewed at : http://MomentsByMoser.zenfolio.com/aristomediacenterstageparty

Artists Amber Hayes (FUNL Music), Ashley Gearing (Curb Records), Daisy Mallory (FrontWater Records), DJ Miller (Evergreen Records), Rachel Holder (All Entertainment), and Ty Herndon (FUNL Music) each performed a 15-minute set. Hosting duties were handled by The Country Vibe’s Chuck Long and Becca Walls.

The AristoMedia Group hosted a first time event featuring performances from six talented singer/songwriters on Monday, Nov. 8, at the world-renowned The Stage on Broadway in downtown Nashville, TN.

Entitled the Aristo Center Stage Party, the event highlighted a cross section of talent in a semi-acoustic setting. Plans are in place for this to become an annual event.

Hosting duties were handled by The Country Vibe’s Chuck Long and Becca Walls, who are seen regularly on the nationally and internationally syndicated show, which airs in Nashville weekly on the CW network (WNAB-TV).

“Nashville has so many great new and established singer/songwriters. We feel that our inaugural Center Stage Party is a great way to cap off the year in which AristoMedia celebrates its 30th Anniversary and share some great music with some of the many people who are coming to the city to participate in the CMA Awards week activities” stated AristoMedia President Jeff Walker.

The timing of the event is set to coincide with the numerous activities surrounding the CMA Awards week.

Musical supervisor for the event is well known Australian transplant producer, Mark Moffat. Event coordinator is AristoMedia’s Matt Watkins.

ABOUT The Artists:

Amber Hayes is a rising Country singer/songwriter and an accomplished theater performer (her credits include a leading role as Kathy Twitty in the acclaimed Conway Twitty musical, It’s Only Make Believe). She released her debut EP in August 2010, visiting more than 70 radio stations across the country during her radio tour. The first single, “C’mon,” has continued to move up the charts and is currently approaching Top 40 status on Music Row. Signed to FUNL Music earlier this year, Hayes celebrated the album release with a live broadcast on legendary WSM at the famed Station Inn in Nashville. Visit www.AmberHayesMusic.com for more information.

Ashley Gearing signed to Curb Records on her 16th birthday, but elected to finish high school before making the move to Nashville and pursuing her career in recording and songwriting full-time. Now, at 19, she is recording her Curb debut, which features the current radio single, “What You Think About Us,” produced by veteran producer Byron Gallimore (Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, Jo Dee Messina). The video is receiving airplay on television at GAC and online at CMT.com. Visit www.AshleyGearing.com for more information.

Daisy Mallory – FrontWater Records’ Daisy Mallory is a 17-year-old singer/songwriter whose EP, Girl Time, produced a single earlier this year called “Do You Think of Me?” The video received placement at GAC and GACTV.com, as well as CMT Pure and Yahoo.com. She is preparing to release her next single, “Don’t Grow Up Too Fast (If I Had a Little Sister).” Earlier this year, she performed alongside Reba McEntire, David Foster, Glenn Frey and Kris Kristofferson at Muhammad Ali’s Celebrity Fight Night event. For more information about Daisy, visit www.DaisyMallory.com

DJ Miller - DJ Miller is developing a reputation as not only a Country music singer, but also as an entertainer. This 21-year-old from Idaville, Indiana, is known to jump off stage in the middle of his shows to run through the crowd, interact with the audience and even sing love songs to some of his female fans. His debut single for Evergreen Records, “A Little Naughty Is Nice,” was released earlier this summer. The follow-up single is entitled “A Snowman in Birmingham” and is at radio now. Visit www.DJMillerCountry.com for more information.

Rachel Holder – Eighteen-year-old Rachel Holder is currently recording her debut album for All Entertainment, to be released in early 2011. The project’s first single (due early next year) is the catchy “Chocolate,” produced by industry veteran and hit producer Chuck Howard. Holder has also released a special holiday single and video for “Christmas Eve,” which is now available at iTunes and Amazon.com. Her upcoming album will feature several self-penned songs. Visit www.RachelHolder.com for more info about this rising young artist.

Ty Herndon’s career has produced sales of more than 4 million albums and multiple No. 1s on the Country charts, including “What Mattered Most,” “Living in a Moment” and “It Must Be Love.” Herndon’s latest project, released through FUNL Music, is a faith-based Country album titled Journey On. The title track was recently selected for an upcoming public awareness campaign to help fight ALS, spearheaded by former NFL player Kevin Turner, who suffers from the disease. The video for the campaign was recently shot at Nashville’s LP Field. Visit www.TyHerndon.net for more information.

ABOUT The Hosts:

Chuck Long – Chuck Long began his hosting career at the age of 19 while a student at the University of Texas, fronting a music show called Backstage Country. Shortly after college, Long moved to Los Angeles and quickly found hosting gigs covering the entertainment scene. He also had hosting stints on the USA Network, Nickelodeon and Financial News Network. It was his love of country music that prompted Long to create, produce and host Chuck’s Country. At the time, Chuck’s Country was the City of Angel’s sole local country music television show. Chuck’s Country gained national exposure with a series of specials on CMT. After a three year run in Los Angeles, Jim Owens Entertainment brought the show to Nashville where it kicked into high gear with a daily, three-hour live edition. After its Nashville run ended, a new version, Chuck’s Country Lightning went nationwide once more as one of the Americana Network’s cornerstone shows. Long is a popular personality in Nashville, thanks to his hosting stints on the WB’s Mornings, The Americana Network’s Americana Digest and Writer’s Notes, correspondent duties on the syndicated television show Crook and Chase and the Shop at Home Network, where he served as a Senior Host. Long currently hosts entertainment segments on Nashville’s WTVF-NewsChannel 5+. An accomplished actor, Long has a substantial resume of film, television and theatre roles.

Becca Walls - Becca Walls started as an intern at 102.7 KIIS-FM in Los Angeles In 1991. She was promoted to afternoon producer and then in 1993 helped start the nationally syndicated radio show After MidNite with Blair Garner. There she was the producer and co-host of the show for four years. In 1997 Walls moved to Nashville, where she worked as a Nashville correspondent for numerous outlets. She did interviews with artists, attended events and reported on all the happenings in country music. In May 2000 she landed the midday position at Nashville’s country station 103 WKDF. In addition to doing middays in Nashville, in March of 2010 Becca became the Nashville-based co-host of WAXX 104.5’s morning show in Eau Claire, WI. She also continues to be a Nashville correspondent and does country music news reports on radio stations across the U.S.

ABOUT The Country Vibe:The Country Vibe with Chuck and Becca, hosted by industry veterans Chuck Long and Becca Walls, features a mix of the latest news from Music City as well as interviews with today’s hit makers, future stars and country music legends. The series originates from ground zero of Nashville’s Honky Tonk scene, the legendary The Stage nightclub on Lower Broadway. The CW-Nashville (WNAB; Comcast Ch. 18) is the Nashville home for The Country Vibe with Chuck and Becca. The show airs Saturdays at 10:30 p.m. in the channel’s country-tv block, along with Crook & Chase at 9 p.m. and Inside Music Row at 10 p.m. The Country Vibe airs internationally in the United Kingdom on The Showcase Channel on Sky 201 & Freesat 403. Distribution to 10.5million homes in the UK, with millions more inside satellite footprint tuning in from Ireland & Europe. Air times are Sundays/Mondays 7:30pm; Tuesdays/Saturdays 1:30am. The combined number of households for The Country Vibe’s second season is 62 million.

PRESS CONF: Martina McBride joins Republic Nashville label

2010-11-12T09:56:00.000-08:00

For additional photos of the press conference visit : http://MomentsByMoser.zenfolio.com/martinarepublicpc

REPUBLIC NASHVILLE HITS A HIGH NOTE WITH MARTINA McBRIDE Grammy-winning, Country Music Icon Signs New Record Deal

Nashville, Tennessee (November 8, 2010) – Republic Nashville proudly announces the addition of Country Music Icon Martina McBride to its roster. This special reveal took place earlier today at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in front of industry and press just as CMA Week begins. The four-time CMA Vocalist of the Year – tied only with Reba – could make history if she takes the title again Wednesday night.

Joining forces with an outside-of-the-box operation will provide a natural evolution in an already incredible career. “The passion and excitement Scott, Jimmy and the entire Big Machine Label Group/Republic Nashville team have for my career and music is so inspiring to me. I have been blessed with an amazing career but in so many ways I really feel like the best is yet to come. I am as over-the-top excited about making music today as I was when I first moved to Nashville,” said Martina.

The superstar’s phenomenal talents, coupled with an innovative and passionate record label, provide a solid foundation for a shifting era in the music industry. “When you think about big voices, the name at the top of the list is always Martina McBride. Her body of work, the important songs, the amazing and moving awards-show performances and all the incredible accolades place her as one of the most important music artists of this generation. When we found out she might be looking for a new home, we didn’t walk, we ran to be first in line. She’s completely energized and has a stack of great new songs and ideas. We can’t wait to plug in as we look forward to continuing and building on this career of excellence,” said Scott Borchetta, Big Machine Label Group President/CEO.

According to Republic Nashville President Jimmy Harnen, “Along with being a gigantic Martina McBride fan it is an honor to have the opportunity to work with one of the greatest female vocalists of our time. Martina and her artistry are timeless.”
Martina will begin recording her new BMLG/Republic Nashville album in December with producer Byron Gallimore. Also look for her hitting the stage with Grammy-winning rockers Train (“Hey Soul Sister,” “Drops of Jupiter,” “Calling All Angels”) on CMT Crossroads, premiering Saturday, November 20 at 8:00 p.m., ET/PT.

About Martina McBride: One of the most spectacular voices in any genre of music is four-time CMA Female Vocalist of the Year and GRAMMY® winning recording artist Martina McBride, who has garnered more than 18 million album sales and 24 Top 10 singles, including six that hit #1. The breadth of her talents - as recording artist, producer, songwriter and concert entertainer – has made her an in-demand performer and personality, appearing on such high-profile programs as Oprah, American Idol, Dancing with the Stars, the Today show's "Today Throws a Wedding," VH1 Divas (singing with Jordin Sparks), The Bachelorette, Private Sessions, a 20/20 special and much more. Celebrated for her beauty and sense of fashion, as well as her everywoman perspective in life and music, Martina is a wife and mother of three girls who has been featured on the covers of publications like Redbook and Shape. Among her hits are such anthemic and empowering songs as "Independence Day," "This One's for the Girls" and "Ride," all of which have underscored her incredible popularity as one of music's preeminent female vocalists. Her last album was the chart-topping Shine.

About Republic Nashville: Monte Lipman, President and CEO of Universal Republic and Scott Borchetta, President and CEO of Big Machine Records, LLC announced the formation of its new label partnership – Republic Nashville – in May 2009. Former Capitol Records Promotion executive Jimmy Harnen serves as President with Borchetta serving as CEO. The imprint is headquartered on Music Row and utilizes the combined resources of Big Machine Records and Universal Republic Records. Big Machine and Universal Republic first joined forces in 2007 to propel country Superstar Taylor Swift to Top 40 radio and beyond, with Taylor becoming the best-selling all-genre artist in 2008. Republic Nashville's artist roster includes the Top 20-charting rising stars The Band Perry, the Eli Young Band, Jaron And The Long Road To Love, sister act SHEL and honky tonkin' singer/songwriter Sunny Sweeney.